Go to content

Terrestrial television in Norway

Regulatory authorities

Responsibility for media regulation is shared between an independent supervisory authority and the responsible ministry.
  • The Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet) is the main supervisory authority. It supervises broadcasters and audiovisual media services, grants licences for DTT network and local broadcasting, and ensures compliance with advertising rules, protection of minors, and public service obligations.
  • The Ministry of Culture and Equality (Kultur- og likestillingsdepartementet) sets the overall legal and policy framework for the media sector. The ministry prepares legislation, defines public service mandates, and represents Norway in international media policy cooperation.

References

Government of Norway. (n.d.). Ministry of Culture and Equality.
https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/kud/
Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet). (n.d.). About the Norwegian Media Authority. [In Norwegian]
https://www.medietilsynet.no/

Terrestrial television network

The transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting was completed on 1 December 2009, following a region‑by‑region switchover that began in 2007. The transition was carried out as a commercial operation without government subsidies.
The DTT network is operated by Norges Televisjon AS (NTV), a joint venture owned in equal parts by the public service broadcaster NRK, commercial broadcaster TV 2, and Norway’s dominating telecom company Telenor. NTV holds the licence to operate the terrestrial network and manages the multiplex capacity.
Norway’s DTT network consists of five national multiplexes, which together provide capacity for both free-to-air and subscription-based television services. One multiplex is primarily used for NRK’s public service channels, which are broadcast free-to-air and available to the entire population. The remaining multiplexes are used for commercial and pay-TV services distributed via the terrestrial platform.
The physical transmission infrastructure was historically owned and operated by Norkring AS, a subsidiary of Telenor. Following a restructuring in 2020, these assets were integrated into other parts of Telenor’s infrastructure operations.
RiksTV, owned by the same partners as NTV, acts as the commercial distributor of pay television services on the terrestrial platform. While NRK’s public service channels are broadcast free-to-air, commercial and subscription-based channels are marketed and sold to viewers through RiksTV.

References

Norges Televisjon (NTV). (n.d.). Norges Televisjon. [In Norwegian]
https://www.ntv.no
RiksTV. (n.d.). RiksTV. [In Norwegian]
https://www.rikstv.no

Permits for terrestrial television

Television broadcasters wishing to operate services via the terrestrial network in Norway must obtain a broadcasting licence from the Norwegian Media Authority. The requirement applies specifically to terrestrial transmission; broadcasting via satellite or online platforms does not require a terrestrial licence.
NRK’s right to broadcast is established directly in law, while all other broadcasters must apply for a licence. Licences are typically issued for fixed periods and may include conditions relating to editorial responsibility, coverage obligations, advertising rules, protection of minors, technical standards, and other requirements set out in Norwegian broadcasting and audiovisual legislation. Norwegian broadcasting rules implement the AVMSD through the EEA Agreement, and broadcasters must meet the content and editorial standards derived from this framework.
Applications for terrestrial broadcasting must include relevant documentation, such as confirmation of a transmission agreement with the approved network operator.
In addition to the content‑related licence, broadcasters that rely on terrestrial transmission must secure access to radio frequencies under Norway’s electronic communications legislation. Spectrum management, including allocation and technical regulation of frequencies, is administered by the Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom).

References

Government of Norway. (1992). Act relating to broadcasting and audiovisual on‑demand services.
https://lovdata.no/dokument/NLE/lov/1992-12-04-127
Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet). (n.d.). TV and audiovisual services: Regulatory obligations and overview. [In Norwegian]
https://www.medietilsynet.no/tv-film-radio/tv-kringkastere-og-bestillingstjenester/
Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet). (n.d.). About the Norwegian Media Authority.
https://www.medietilsynet.no/english/
Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom). (n.d.). Spectrum management.
https://www.nkom.no/
Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet). (n.d.). License to broadcast on the digital terrestrial television network (application form). [In Norwegian]
https://info.altinn.no/skjemaoversikt/medietilsynet/soknad-om-konsesjon-for-kringkasting-i-det-digitale-bakkenettet-for-tv/

Public service broadcasting

In Norway, public service broadcasting is carried out by two companies: the state-owned and publicly funded Norsk rikskringkasting AS (NRK) and the commercial broadcaster TV 2.
The fundamental legal framework governing NRK’s organisation, ownership, purpose, and financing is laid down in the Broadcasting Act (Lov om kringkasting og audiovisuelle bestillingstjenester, Act of 4 December 1992 No. 127). According to Section 6-1 of the Act, NRK is mandated to provide public service broadcasting and related activities.
More detailed provisions concerning NRK’s governance and organisation are set out in the company’s Articles of Association. These state that NRK shall provide public service broadcasting services for the entire Norwegian population across television, radio, and other media platforms.
Since 2007, the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) has defined its requirements and expectations for NRK in a specific policy document known as the NRK Charter (NRK-plakaten). This document outlines the core principles and content obligations for NRK’s services, in a manner comparable to public service licences in other Nordic countries. The charter has been revised several times, most recently in January 2023.
NRK is financed through a public broadcasting tax collected via the general taxation system.
In addition to NRK, the commercial broadcaster TV 2 has a public service agreement with the state. Under this agreement, TV 2 must fulfil obligations, including broadcasting daily national news on its main channel, providing Norwegian-language children’s programming on weekends, and investing in Norwegian film and drama production. The arrangement with TV 2 aims to strengthen media pluralism and ensure news production outside the Oslo region. TV 2’s main headquarters are in Bergen. TV 2 must distribute its content on both linear and non-linear platforms. Since the latest TV 2 agreement with the state in 2024, TV 2 receives compensation up to 150 million Norwegian kroner annually.

References

Government of Norway. (1992). Act relating to broadcasting and audiovisual media services (Broadcasting Act). [In Norwegian]
https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1992-12-04-127
Government of Norway. (n.d.). NRK Charter (NRK-plakaten). [In Norwegian].
NRK-relaterte saker/regelverk - regjeringen.no
Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet). (2024). Public service broadcasting report: NRK 2024. [In Norwegian].
https://www.medietilsynet.no/globalassets/publikasjoner/allmennkringkastingsrapporter/250610_allmennkringkastingsrapporten_nrk_2024.pdf
Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet). (n.d.). TV 2 public service compensation. [In Norwegian].
https://www.medietilsynet.no/mediestotte/stotte-til-tv-2/
Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). (n.d.). Corporate information. [In Norwegian].
https://www.nrk.no/informasjon/

Must-carry obligations

Re-transmission of television services is regulated under the Broadcasting Act (Kringkastingsloven) and associated regulations. These rules govern licensing, re-transmission in cable networks, and public service obligations, but they do not establish a list of television channels that must be carried by all distribution networks.
Public service broadcasting, provided by NRK, is subject to specific legal obligations concerning nationwide availability and public interest content. However, Norwegian law does not use the concept of must-carry and does not impose obligations on network operators to carry designated channels. Oversight of re-transmission and broadcasting rules is exercised by the Norwegian Media Authority.

References

Overview of Nordic terrestrial television regulation | Nordicom
Check Copied to clipboard