Television in Iceland
is currently [when?] composed of the public broadcasting service of
RUV
, 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
RUV
, originally called Sjonvarpið ("The Television"). In 1986, the first privately owned TV station,
Stoð 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
Siminn Premium
and
Stoð 2+
.
[1]
Channels can be received via digital terrestrial
DVB-T2
, digital satellite
DVB-S
and through managed
IPTV
providers such as
Siminn
and
Vodafone
.
Over-the-top streaming
via domestic and foreign providers is also increasingly used.
The
digital switchover
occurred in 2015 when the last
RUV
analog transmitter was shut down.
[2]
History
[
edit
]
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,
RUV
, 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.
Stoð 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
,
Hafnafjorður
,
Hella
and
Husavik
, offering international channels and programming.
Siminn
began installing
cable TV
networks in some areas of Reykjavik 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
Siminn
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, RUV 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
RUV
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]
RUV 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
[
edit
]
Free-to-air channels
[
edit
]
The following channels are freely available on
DVB-T2
terrestrial television.
[8]
^a
Only free-to-air during 18.30 evening news program and special events.
Free-to-view channels
[
edit
]
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.
Subscription channels
[
edit
]
Defunct channels
[
edit
]
- Stoð 2 Krakkar
- Stoð 3 - Icelandic general television channel, owned and operated by Syn.
- INN
- Owned and operated by Ingvi Hrafn Jonsson
- iSTV
- NFS
, now a news service providing news for
visir.is
and television channels of
365
- Skjar tveir
, was meant to be an ad-free channel paid for by the viewers. It didn't go as planned and soon merged with Skjar einn.
- Stoð 1
, launched 29 Oct 2010. Entertainment channel, free to air, non-subscription. Reaches 98% of all households in Iceland.
- Stoð þrju
, the old channel was used. But was bought quickly and shut down in the meaning, it was replaced by
Stoð 2
.
- Skjar sport
, showed Premier League matches for the seasons 2005?2006 and 2006?2007.
- Stoð 2 Extra
(previously called Sirkus) Entertainment channel previously available as free but is now available only as a complement to Stoð 2 subscription
- Nova TV
(previously called Sirkus and before that Popp Tivi), music videos ? free channel
- Fasteignasjonvarpið
, a channel that offers real estate
- Mikligarður
, opened 15 March 2014 ? closed 1 July 2014. Intended for ages 34+ with an emphasis on females. Programming was all domestic and included paid presentations. Broadcasts was 24/7 and in HD.
- Hringbraut
- N4 (2008?2023) a station which was based in
Akureyri
with a free-to-view channel.
- Tonlist, a non-stop music channel by Syn.
International channels available in Iceland
[
edit
]
Additional international channels are available in Iceland through
Vodafone Iceland
[10]
and
Siminn
:
[11]
Overview of Icelandic TV
[
edit
]
TV appearances
[
edit
]
Test card for RUV
[
edit
]
The testcard of RUV was the
PM5544
, introduced in the 1970s.
Text has been changed three times, minor change five times, returned two times
- 1970?1994 ? "RUV ? ISLAND"
- 1995 ? Added time and date
- 2000 ? Remove time and date
- Remove "ISLAND" and replace with the moving bar
- 2002 ? Return the 1995 version
[
citation needed
]
- 2006 ? Return the 2000 version
[
citation needed
]
- 2009 ? Changed to PM5644
RUV's testcard uses test tone but the last 15 minutes before programs start plays classical music.
Closing and opening times
[
edit
]
RUV still closes down at night.
- 1966?2018 opens at 16:30 for weekdays and closes at 00:00.
- 1966?2004 Weekends and holidays open at 9:00, though sometimes with midday break.
- 2004?2018 Weekends and holidays open at 8:00.
- 2018-present Opens at 13:00 for weekdays and closes at 01:00.
- 2018-present Weekends and holidays open from 07:15
[12]
- Nightscreen
during other times
Stoð 2
[
edit
]
- 1986?1988 opens at 8:00 and close at 23:00.
- 1988?1995 opens at 6:00 and close at 0:00.
- 1995?present open 24 hours.
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]
Television in Europe
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Sovereign states
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States with limited
recognition
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Dependencies and
other entities
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