 | |
 | |
| Type | Television,radio andweb |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Availability | National; International via satellite (Thor 5) and online (selected programmes) |
| Motto | RÚV okkar allra (RÚV of all of us) |
| TV stations | 2 |
| TV transmitters | 146 |
| Radio stations | 3 |
| Radio transmitters | 230 |
| Revenue | 7.9 billion ISK |
| 174 million ISK | |
| Headquarters | Reykjavík |
| Owner | State-owned |
Key people | Stefán Eiríksson (director general) |
Launch date | 1930 (incorporation; radio) 1966 (television) |
Official website | ruv.is |
| Language | Icelandic |
Ríkisútvarpið (Icelandic pronunciation:[ˈriːcɪsˌuːtvar̥pɪð],lit. 'National Broadcasting'; abbr.RÚV[ˈruːv]) isIceland's nationalpublic-service broadcasting organization.
Founded in 1930, it operates from studios in the country's capital,Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country. RÚV operates anonline news service, which is the fourth most visited website in Iceland.[1] In 2016, 88% of Icelanders consumed RÚV content every week.[2]
The service broadcasts an assortment of general programming to a wide national audience via two broadcastradio stations:Rás 1 andRás 2; and one full-timetelevision channel of the same name, RÚV. A supplementary, part-time TV channel,RÚV 2 is also broadcast for special events. It also distributes online-only channels and content for children and the elderly.
RÚV is funded by a flatearmarked government tax collected from every income tax payer,[3] as well as from on-airadvertising. All of RÚV's content isfree-to-air and open in Iceland.
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service commenced operations in 1930 with the launch of Icelandic state radio,Útvarp Reykjavík (Radio Reykjavík). RÚV has been a full active member of theEuropean Broadcasting Union since 1956.
Icelandic radio broadcasting began onlongwave in 1930 at Vatnsendhæð, asÚtvarp Reykjavík, near Reykjavík, this station would later be calledRás 1.
In 1991, the original Longwave transmitter tower at Vatnsendahæð collapsed during a storm.[4] Subsequently, theHellissandur longwave transmitter was taken into use in 1999, making itWestern Europe's tallestradio mast during its time of operation.[4] At the same time, longwave broadcasts became a mix ofRás 1 andRás 2 content. Longwave transmissions were intended to fill gaps in the FM coverage, serve the Icelandic fishing fleet and serve as an back up duringemergencies.[5]
In 2023-2024, RÚV discontinued longwave services due its inadequacy as a backup service as most vehicles and radios do not support longwave broadcasts anymore.[6] In 2023, theEiðar longwave transmitter was demolished, followed by theHellissandur longwave transmitter ceasing broadcasts in September 2024 while the mast remained in place, marking the end of longwave broadcasts in Iceland.[5][6][7]
Shortwave broadcasts were used for long distance transmission, mostly forseafarers and Icelanders abroad. They were used intermittently for important broadcasts. Shortwave broadcasts ceased on 1 July 2007, after the introduction of satellite broadcasts.[8]
FM broadcasting began in 1959 at its main Vatnsendi site, later expanding nationwide. Stereo transmissions began in 1980.[9] In 1983 RÚV's second radio station was launched,Rás 2. The original station was then renamedRás 1. In 2023, as a result of longwave transmissions retiring, RÚV committed to expanding the FM network.[10][4]
In 2004, RÚV launched anon-talk, automated classical and jazz radio station called Rondó, based on the wordrondo. In 2020, Rondó was discontinued onFM (due to the closure of Vatnsendi site) but continued onDVB and on the internet.[11]
RÚV commenced television transmissions in 1966, and colour transmissions began in 1977. In 1981, the first live satellite programmes were broadcast, from the then-newly inaugurated satellite ground station Skyggnir.[4]
Since 1986, the year in which itsmonopoly as the only permitted domestic broadcaster ended, RÚV has faced competition from a number of private broadcasting companies, most notably the365 corporation.
RÚV'steletext service,Textavarpið, was inaugurated on the 25th anniversary of Icelandic television in 1991. As of 2023 it is still operating.[12]
In May 2007, RÚV begandirect satellite TV broadcasts overDVB-S, supplemented byRás 1 andRás 2 over satelliteDTV radio, in order to service fishing fleets around Iceland and remote areas where the terrestrial network does not reach.Telenor ASA ran the service until it ceased by mid-2025. The service was encrypted and was only available on request.[13][14]
High definitiondigital television broadcasts in1080i began in 2013, over a new digital terrestrialDVB-T2 network. Television was broadcast in analogue until the digital switchover in 2015, when the lastanalogue transmitter at Vatnsendi was switched off. The analogue transmissions used a network of 180analogue transmitters.[15] However, most users access RÚV content by managedIPTV services orover-the-top services.
In 2021, television transmissions for the Reykjavík area were moved from Vatnsendi toÚlfarsfell, ending 70 years of broadcasting from the location.[16]
RÚV is obliged by the terms of its charter to "promote the Icelandic language, Icelandic history, and Iceland's cultural heritage" and "honour basic democratic rules, human rights, and the freedom of speech and opinion".[17] It carries a substantial amount of arts, media, and current affairs programming, in addition to which it also supplies general entertainment in the form of feature films and such internationally popular television drama series asLost andDesperate Housewives. RÚV's lineup also includes sports coverage, documentaries, domestically produced entertainment shows, and children's programming.
The RÚV newsroom, providing news for both television and radio, is amongst the most time-honoured and respected in Iceland. On weekdays, theRás 2 radio network includes 35 minutes of regionalopt-outs for local news coverage.
Gettu betur is a popular annual quiz tournament pitting teams from senior secondary schools around Iceland against each other in five rounds which are broadcast on radio and TV. Popular viewing also includes theEurovision Song Contest, to which RÚV has sent participants on Iceland's behalf since 1986. In sports, RÚV traditionally carries live coverage of such major events as theOlympic Games and theFIFA World Cup, although it lost the right to broadcast the 2006 World Cup, having been outbid by commercial broadcaster365 in 2002. It did, however, show the 2010 World Cup tournament.
RÚV broadcasts two linear television channels and three radio stations, each with a certain target market. In accordance with its duty as a public broadcasting service,Sjónvarpið, the television network, broadcasts a news bulletin inIcelandic Sign Language for the deaf and hard of hearing. In addition, theRás 1 radio channel broadcasts detailed weather reports for the benefit of Icelandic seafarers and others.
Those who watch television on the internet outsideIceland can only watch selected programs on RÚV and RÚV 2 channels due to broadcasting rights.[19]
As of 2023, most of the population accesses RÚV through the internet. FM radio broadcasts remain popular however, 30% of Icelanders listen to Rás 1 and 61% listen to Rás 2 in a given week. This can be attributed to Iceland's high car ownership.[20][21]
RÚV's radio stations,Rás 1 andRás 2, arebroadcast on FM through a network of 230 FM transmitters.[10] RÚV intends to strengthen its FM network over the coming years in light of their plan to closing their longwave services in 2024.[6]
The radio stations are also broadcast via terrestrialDTV radio onDVB-T2, as well as throughinternet radio. There are no plans to implementDAB radio in Iceland.[22]
The television network,RÚV and RÚV 2, is broadcastterrestrially in1080i HD on aDVB-T2 network operated bySýn by contract until 2028. The broadcasts arefree-to-air and reach 99.9% of the population. According to a 2022 survey, only 1% of the population uses terrestrial broadcasts to watch RÚV.[20]
Due to the prevalence of fiberinternet connections in Iceland, the most popular way to view broadcasts is through the internet. RÚV is available through managedIPTV systems onSíminn andVodafone. RÚV also offers all of its content on their website, as well as throughOTT services. RÚV also offers anapp forApple TV,iOS,Android TV andAndroid. Webcasts are open and free when accessed from Iceland, however some programming is not available internationally due to licensing issues. It is possible to login using anIcelandic digital ID to have full access to broadcasts internationally.[23]
| Distribution method | Market share |
|---|---|
| Terrestrial broadcasts (DVB) | 1% |
| IPTVset-top box (Síminn/Sýn) | 64% |
| OTT services (e.g.Apple TV app) | 27% |
| Website | 7% |
| Other | 1% |
| International | |
|---|---|
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
