How to Preserve the Broadcasting License Fee: the Case of Norway

Abstract

As more and more countries abandon it in the age of digital media, the licence fee on television sets is becoming a rarity. This article looks at a case – Norway – where the traditional funding scheme for public service broadcasting has so far been preserved. It reviews the organization of the Norwegian public service broadcaster, NRK, and scrutinizes the political and public debate over its funding arrangements. Concentrating on three sets of stakeholders – the competitors, the public and the politicians – the article seeks to understand the lack of controversy surrounding these arrangements during the first decade after year 2000. In the conclusion, the article discusses possible outcomes of the current situation.

Key Words:

• Public service broadcasting
• Norway
• license fee
• media policy