Digitisation of Radio
Digitisation of radio in order to promote greater competition, increased diversity as well as increased content in broadcasting.
Radio broadcasts by the public service broadcaster, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) will exclusively be distributed platforms by the end of 2017. The same applies for the national commercial radio broadcasters and local radio broadcasters in the urban areas.
The digital terrestrial radio network is based on DAB technology. The NRK will reach 99,5 % of the population via the DAB network.
The NRK as well as commercial national radio broadcasters and local radio broadcasters in the urban areas will switch off their FM transmissions in 2017. According to a White Paper to the Parliament; Meld. 8 St. (2010-2011) Proposal for the digitisation of radio, the digitisation of radio should be industry driven and leave technology choices to the industry. The role of the authorities is to facilitate digitization in general by setting up criteria after which the Government has allowed the national broadcasters to switch off their FM transmissions in 2017.
The digitisation of the NRK's radio broadcasts has led to a greater diversity as well as increased public service content on radio. While the NRK has three radio channels with a nationwide coverage in the analogue FM network, the NRK distributes ten channels in the digital DAB network. The digital radio channels provided by the NRK targets different groups, such as senior citizens and the Sami population.
The NRK's public service remit, including digital radio, is financed by a licence fee. The income from the licence fee was USD 607 476 635 in 2016 (NOK 5,2 billion).