Television in Iceland explained

Television in Iceland is composed of the public broadcasting service of RÚV, five free-to-view channels and a number of subscription channels provided by private broadcasters. Broadcasts began in 1955 when the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) started an English-language television service broadcasting from Naval Air Station Keflavik, which operated until 2006. The first Icelandic-language television broadcasts started in September 1966 with the launch of RÚV, originally called Sjónvarpið ("The Television"). In 1986, the first privately owned TV station, Stöð 2 ("Channel 2"), began broadcasts. In recent years, the emergence of foreign internet streaming services, such as Netflix and Disney+, has seen a shift from domestic providers provide similar on demand streaming services such as Síminn Premium and Stöð 2+.[1]

Channels can be received via digital terrestrial DVB-T2, digital satellite DVB-S and through managed IPTV providers such as Síminn and Vodafone. Over-the-top streaming via domestic and foreign providers is also increasingly used.

The digital switchover occurred in 2015 when the last RÚV analog transmitter was shut down.[2]

History

The first television broadcasts commenced in 1955 by the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) from the Naval Air Station Keflavik. A small transmitter broadcasting at 50W on the VHF band was not intended for the local population, but nevertheless locals began installing antennas and buying US television sets to receive the broadcasts. This created concern among some local politicians and prominent individuals, claiming it would weaken Icelandic language and culture. In 1961, the power was increased to 250W. Opposition to the American broadcasts was countered by 14,000 locals, who had come to enjoy the American programming, who signed a petition demanding it stay on air. Eventually, the AFRTS ceased its terrestrial broadcasts and built a private cable TV network in 1974.

The Icelandic state public broadcaster, RÚV, began transmissions in 1966 using PAL standards over the VHF band. Colour television broadcasts began in 1973. The first satellite ground station, Skyggnir, opened in 1981 which allowed the first international live TV events to be broadcast in 1986.

Stöð 2, the first private subscription TV service, began encrypted broadcasts in 1986 via terrestrial VHF which required the use of a decoder.

Throughout the late 1990s, local cable TV services began operating in some towns such as Keflavik, Hafnafjörður, Hella and Húsavik, offering international channels and programming. Síminn began installing cable TV networks in some areas of Reykjavík from 1997. As of 2021, most cable TV networks in Iceland are defunct and have been replaced by IPTV services.

Digital Island (now Vodafone Iceland), began over the air digital MMDS broadcasts in built up areas in 1999.

By the early 2000s, fiber and ADSL broadband became widely available, which led to the deployment of managed IPTV systems in 2004 by Síminn followed by Vodafone Iceland. This allowed many new domestic and international channels to become available to households. Iceland leads the world in IPTV subscriptions, with over 65% of households using such services in 2014.[3]

In 2007, RÚV began direct satellite TV broadcasts using the Thor 5 satellite over DVB-S, in order to service fishing fleets around Iceland and remote areas where the terrestrial network does not reach. Telenor runs the service by contract until 2028, this service is encrypted and is available only on request.

Digital terrestrial HDTV broadcasts commenced in 2014 following an agreement signed between public broadcaster RÚV and Vodafone Iceland on 27 March 2013 to install and run two new shared digital multiplexes using DVB-T2 (for HD transmissions) and DVB-T (for SD transmissions) over UHF bands, with 99.9% population coverage.[4]

Analog transmissions ceased in 2015 and MMDS transmissions in 2016.[5] RÚV announced it would cease satellite TV distribution on DVB-S in summer 2024, as fishing fleets turned to IP-based solutions.[6]

Transmissions on the older DVB-T system in standard definition ceased on 3 June 2024, however DVB-T2 broadcasts in HD remain.[7]

List of channels

Free-to-air channels

The following channels are freely available on DVB-T2 terrestrial television.[8]

Channel nameOwner/parent company
RÚV HDRÚV
RÚV 2 HDRÚV
Stöð 2Sýn
Stöð 2 VísirSýn
Omega Christian televisionOmega Kristniboðskirkja
Only free-to-air during 18.30 evening news program and special events.

Free-to-view channels

These channels are free to view via IPTV providers Siminn and Vodafone or through encrypted DVB-T2 broadcasts from Vodafone.[9] Some channels provide OTT internet streaming via connected TV apps or their website.

Channel nameOwner/parent company
K100Morgunblaðið
Sjónvarp SímansSíminn
AlþingiGovernment of Iceland

Subscription channels

Channel nameOwner/parent company
Síminn SportSíminn
Síminn Sport 2Síminn
Síminn Sport 3Síminn
Síminn Sport 4Síminn
Stöð 2Sýn
Stöð 2 BíóSýn
Stöð 2 eSportSýn
Stöð 2 FjölskyldaSýn
Stöð 2 Besta DeildinSýn
Stöð 2 Besta Deildin 2Sýn
Stöð 2 SportSýn
Stöð 2 Sport 2Sýn
Stöð 2 Sport 3Sýn
Stöð 2 Sport 5Sýn
Stöð 2 Sport 6Sýn

Defunct channels

International channels available in Iceland

Additional international channels are available in Iceland through Vodafone Iceland[10] and Síminn:[11]

ChannelsOwner
NRK1Norway - NRK
NRK2Norway - NRK
NRK3Norway - NRK
SVT1Sweden - Sveriges Television
SVT2Sweden - Sveriges Television
DR1Denmark - DR
DR2Denmark - DR
KVFFaroe Islands - Kringvarp Føroya
BBC NordicBBC Worldwide
BBC NewsBBC Worldwide
Rai 1Italy – RAI
Rai 2Italy – RAI
Jim Jam EuroAMC Networks International UK
Travel ChannelAMC Networks International UK
Food NetworkAMC Networks International UK
CBS RealityAMC Networks International UK
CNN InternationalWarner Bros. Discovery
Cartoon NetworkWarner Bros. Discovery
BoomerangWarner Bros. Discovery
E!EntertainmentComcast
CNBCComcast
National Geographic ChannelNational Geographic Partners
BabyTVFox Networks Group
Sky NewsSky Group
Animal PlanetDiscovery Networks Northern Europe
Discovery ScienceDiscovery Networks Northern Europe
History ChannelA+E Networks UK
Discovery ChannelDiscovery Networks Northern Europe
ID (Investigation Discovery)Discovery Networks Northern Europe
TLCDiscovery Networks Northern Europe
LFC TVLiverpool F.C.
MUTVManchester United F.C.
Premier League ChannelUK
TVE InternacionalSpain – RTVE
TVP PoloniaPoland – Telewizja Polska
mezzoFrance - Groupe Canal+
EurosportDiscovery
Eurosport 2Discovery
ArteARTE GEIE, ARTE France, ARTE Deutschland TV GmbH
ProsiebenGermany – ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE
SAT1Germany – ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE
ZDFGermany – independent nonprofit institution
ARDGermany
France 2France - France Télévisions group
France 24France – France Médias Monde
M6France – Groupe M6
GinxUK - Ginx TV Limited
MTV 00sViacomCBS Networks EMEAA
BOX HitsUK - The Box Plus Network
MagicViacomCBS Networks EMEAA
Disney Channel
Disney JuniorThe Walt Disney Company
BloombergUS - Bloomberg L.P.
Fox NewsUS - Fox Corporation
CCTV-4China - CCTV
CGTNChina - CCTV
CGTN DocumentaryChina - CCTV

Overview of Icelandic TV

TV appearances

Test card for RÚV

The testcard of RÚV was the PM5544, introduced in the 1970s.

Text has been changed three times, minor change five times, returned two times

RÚV's testcard uses test tone but the last 15 minutes before programs start plays classical music.

Closing and opening times

RÚV still closes down at night.

RÚV
Stöð 2

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eitthvað fyrir alla á Stöð 2 Maraþon. 2021-05-17. www.frettabladid.is. is.
  2. Web site: Slökkt á hliðrænu dreifikerfi RÚV á mánudag. 2021-05-17. www.mbl.is. is.
  3. Web site: Ský. 4 May 2014. Framtíð IPTV á Íslandi.
  4. Web site: Þjónustusvæði Sjónvarps. 2021-05-18. Vodafone. is-IS.
  5. Web site: Dreifikerfi. 2021-05-18. RÚV. is.
  6. Web site: Kristjánsson . Alexander . 2024-06-05 . RÚV hættir sjónvarpútsendingum um gervihnött - RÚV.is . 2024-06-05 . RÚV.
  7. Web site: Vefritstjórn . 2024-06-04 . Breyting á útsendingu í gegnum loftnet - RÚV.is . 2024-06-05 . RÚV.
  8. Web site: Dreifikerfi. 2021-05-17. RÚV. is.
  9. Web site: Þjónustusvæði Sjónvarps. 2021-05-17. Vodafone. is-IS.
  10. Web site: Vodafone - Framtíðin er spennandi. Ertu til? . 2023-06-25 . kaup.vodafone.is . en.
  11. Web site: Sjónvarp Símans er lykillinn að öllu því skemmtilega Síminn . 2023-06-25 . www.siminn.is . is.
  12. Web site: Dagskrá RÚV . 2022-03-04 . www.ruv.is.