Media of Iceland

The media in Iceland is well-developed for a country of its size. The Constitution of Iceland guarantees absolute freedom of speech, therefore Iceland’s media is one of the freest in the world. Words are used as freely as any others and there isn't as much "Parental discretion advised", this is due to their wide variety in language.

Iceland ranks joint first on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, with a score of 0.00.^[1]

Television

The RÚV headquarters in Reykjavík.

Main article: Television in Iceland

The principal television station in Iceland is RÚV, which is state-owned. It has a commitment to promote the Icelandic language and the country’s history, and is partly funded by license fee; the rest of the RÚV’s income comes from advertising. The channel broadcast by RÚV is Sjónvarpið, which translates as ‘the television’. Broadcasts started in 1966, and coverage very quickly reached every household in Iceland. RÚV had a monopoly on domestic broadcasting until 1986.

The main private television network is 365 corporation which runs numerous television stations including Stöð 2 (lit. ‘Channel 2’) which broadcasts mostly American programming but also original Icelandic programming and news programms. Other notable channels owned by 365 include Stöð 2 Sport, a sports channel, and various other sports channels and a movie channel which broadcasts mostly American movies. All of 365's channels are funded by subscription fees and advertising sales with one exception, Skífan TV, a music channel with music videos 24/7. The only subscription free principal channel is Skjár einn, which mainly broadcasts American programming and original Icelandic programming and is completely funded by advertising sales.^[2]

Radio

Before television broadcasting started in 1966, RÚV had already been broadcasting radio since 1930. Rás 1 is the principal radio station, along with its sister channel Rás 2. Bylgjan is a notable private broadcaster.

Press

Literature is a favourite pastime of the Icelanders, and so the printed press in the country is quite well developed.

Newspapers

Fréttablaðið is the principal daily newspaper in Iceland, and has the largest circulation of any newspaper in the country. It is distributed by 365 hf. to homes, free of charge. Morgunblaðið is a much older newspaper, founded in 1913, and is Fréttablaðið’s main competitor. Its readership is second largest after Fréttablaðið. These are the two main publications in terms of the quality press.

The tabloids include DV, a small yet controversial paper, which is published four times a week.

Viðskiptablaðið (lit. ‘the commercial newspaper’) is the country’s principal business-oriented newspaper.

Magazines

Iceland Review is an English language magazine about Iceland, published quarterly.

Internet

The internet is unrestricted by the government, and is used by around 85% of the population.^[3]

See also

• Communications in Iceland

References

1. ^ 2008 Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders
2. ^ BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Country profiles | Country profile: Iceland
3. ^ 2008 report - Iceland, Freedom House

Lists

• List of Icelandic newspapers
• List of Icelandic magazines
• List of Icelandic television channels
• List of Icelandic radio stations

External links

• Iceland Review, English-language news site
• Frettabladid, daily
• Morgunbladid, daily
• DV, daily
• Vidskiptabladid, business daily
• Stod 2, main private television station
• Bylgjan, main private radio station