Denmark

The television market in Denmark is dominated by Danmarks Radio (DR) and TV2. Both are considered as public channels although TV2 is in part privately owned. However, the government has proposed new legislation which will restructure TV2 into a state-owned limited company. Terrestrial radio and television frequencies in Denmark are reserved for three national channels DR, TV2 and one still to be allocated. Under the Danish Broadcasting Law proprietors of cable networks are obliged to distribute the broadcasts of DR and TV2, including their regional programmes, no matter what the rest of the operators choice of channels is.

In comparison to the rest of the European countries the Danish television market is depending on the licence fee to a very high degree of about 82 per cent (in contrast to advertising revenues of just about 18 per cent). Moreover, a recent media law allows an increase of 3.3 per cent in licence fee. TV2’s (which is primarily advertising financed) share of licence fee revenues will be adjusted from 12.5 per cent at present to 15 per cent by the year 2000. Because of the small advertising market TV2 is opposing the government’s plans to create more advertising-funded channels.

DR has unveiled its plans to launch a second channel, DR2, via satellite on August 30 with in-house produced programmes like entertainment, documentaries and news. This is intended to strengthen DR’s competitiveness in the precarious Danish broadcasting environment.

After the launch of a new joint pay-TV channel with sports programming had been announced by DR, TV2 and Danish Telecom earlier this year, delays are expected for the start, originally scheduled for this autumn, since Danish Office of Fair Trading is examining the agreement. It wants to ensure that rival broadcasters get fair access to soccer matches. DR and TV2 have purchased the rights to broadcast Danish super-league matches for the next eight years.

© July 1996 by Jens Barkemeyer