RÚV facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
RÚV

Type	Television, radio and web
Country	Iceland
Availability	National; International via satellite (Thor 5) and online (selected programmes)
Motto	RÚV okkar allra (RÚV of all of us)
Revenue	7.9 billion ISK
Net income	174 million ISK
Headquarters	Reykjavík
Owner	State-owned
Key people	Stefán Eiríksson (director general)
Launch date	1930 (incorporation; radio) 1966 (television)
Language	Icelandic

Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV) is Iceland's national public broadcasting company. It's like the BBC in the UK or PBS in the USA, but for Iceland!

RÚV started in 1930. Its main studios are in Reykjavík, the capital city. RÚV also has offices in other parts of Iceland. It offers an online news service, which is very popular. In 2016, almost 9 out of 10 Icelanders used RÚV's content every week.

RÚV broadcasts many different types of shows. It has two main radio stations, Rás 1 and Rás 2. It also has one main TV channel, also called RÚV. There's also a second TV channel, RÚV 2. This channel shows live sports and cultural events. RÚV also has special online content just for kids and older people.

RÚV gets its money from a special government tax. This tax is collected from everyone who pays income tax. It also gets money from ads shown on TV and radio. All of RÚV's content is free to watch and listen to in Iceland.

RÚV's Story: How It Began

RÚV started broadcasting radio in 1930. It was first called Útvarp Reykjavík. RÚV became a member of the European Broadcasting Union in 1956. This is a group of public broadcasters from many countries.

Radio's Journey

Radio broadcasting has changed a lot over the years.

Early Radio: Longwave and Shortwave

Icelandic radio transmission network in 1981.

RÚV first used a type of radio signal called longwave in 1930. This was near Reykjavík. Longwave signals can travel very far. In 1991, the original longwave tower fell down. A new, very tall tower was then used for longwave broadcasts.

RÚV also used shortwave radio for a while. This was mainly for sailors and Icelanders living abroad. Shortwave broadcasts stopped in 2007. This was because satellite broadcasts became available.

RÚV plans to stop using longwave signals by 2024. This is because most modern radios and cars don't support longwave anymore.

Modern Radio: FM Broadcasting

FM broadcasting started in Iceland in 1959. It then spread across the whole country. In 1983, RÚV launched its second radio station, Rás 2. The first station was then renamed Rás 1.

In 2004, RÚV started a classical music and jazz radio station called Rondó. It played music without talking. In 2020, Rondó stopped broadcasting on FM radio. But you can still listen to it online. RÚV is now making its FM network even stronger.

Television's Journey

RÚV TV transmission network in 1981.

RÚV started broadcasting television in 1966. Color TV shows began in 1977. In 1981, RÚV showed its first live programs using satellites.

For many years, RÚV was the only TV channel in Iceland. But in 1986, other private TV companies started. This meant RÚV had competition.

RÚV also has a teletext service called Textavarpið. It started in 1991 and is still used today.

In 2007, RÚV started broadcasting TV using satellites. This helped people far away, like fishing boats, watch RÚV.

Digital TV broadcasting began in 2013. Before that, TV was broadcast using older analogue signals. In 2015, RÚV switched off its last analogue TV transmitter. Now, all TV is digital.

In 2021, TV broadcasts for Reykjavík moved to a new location. This ended 70 years of broadcasting from the old spot.

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  RÚV's first headquarters from 1930 to 1959.

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  RÚV logo used until 2011.

What You Can Watch and Listen To

RÚV has a special job to do. It must "promote the Icelandic language, Icelandic history, and Iceland's cultural heritage." It also needs to "honor basic democratic rules, human rights, and freedom of speech."

RÚV shows many types of programs. These include arts, news, and current events. It also shows movies and popular TV series. You can also watch sports, documentaries, and shows made in Iceland. And of course, there are many children's programs!

RÚV's news team is very well-known in Iceland. They provide news for both TV and radio.

Gettu betur is a popular annual quiz show. Teams from high schools across Iceland compete. It's shown on both radio and TV. RÚV also broadcasts the Eurovision Song Contest. Iceland has sent participants to Eurovision since 1986. RÚV also shows big sports events like the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup.

RÚV's Channels and Services

RÚV broadcasts two TV channels and three radio stations. Each one is for a different audience. RÚV also provides a news bulletin in Icelandic Sign Language for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The Rás 1 radio channel also gives detailed weather reports for sailors.

RÚV Television Channels

RÚV 2 logo (2019)

• RÚV Television (also called Sjónvarpið) – This is the main channel with all kinds of general programs.
• RÚV 2 – This channel is for special events like live sports or concerts.
• KrakkaRÚV – This is an online service just for kids and young people. It started in 2015.

If you watch RÚV online outside Iceland, you can only see some programs. This is because of broadcasting rules.

RÚV Radio Stations

Rondó logo (2019)

• Rás 1 (Channel 1) – This station has news, weather, current events, and cultural programs.
• Rás 2 (Channel 2) – This station plays pop and rock music.
• Rondó – This station plays non-stop classical music and jazz. You can listen to it digitally or online.

How People Access RÚV

Most people in Iceland now access RÚV using the internet. But FM radio is still popular. About 30% of Icelanders listen to Rás 1 each week. And 61% listen to Rás 2. This is partly because many people listen to the radio in their cars.

Radio Access

RÚV's radio stations, Rás 1 and Rás 2, are broadcast on FM radio. There are 230 FM transmitters across Iceland. RÚV plans to make its FM network even stronger. This is because they are closing their longwave services soon.

RÚV still broadcasts on longwave using a very tall radio mast. This longwave broadcast mixes content from Rás 1 and Rás 2. It helps fill in gaps where FM signals don't reach. It also helps the Icelandic fishing fleet and acts as a backup during emergencies. But RÚV will stop longwave broadcasts by 2024. This is because most modern radios don't support longwave anymore.

You can also listen to RÚV radio stations on digital TV (DVB-T2) and through internet radio.

Television Access

The RÚV TV channels, RÚV and RÚV 2, are broadcast digitally in high definition (HD). They are free to watch and reach almost everyone in Iceland. However, only about 1% of people use these traditional broadcasts to watch RÚV.

The main TV channel RÚV and radio stations Rás 1 and Rás 2 are also broadcast by satellite. This is mainly for the Icelandic fishing fleet.

Most people in Iceland watch RÚV using the internet. This is because many homes have fast fiber internet. RÚV is available through internet TV systems like Síminn and Vodafone. RÚV also offers all its content on its website. You can also use RÚV's app on devices like Apple TV and Android phones.

See also

In Spanish: RÚV para niños

• List of Icelandic television channels
• Television in Iceland
• RÚV (television channel)
• Rás 1
• Rás 2
• Telecommunications in Iceland
• Internet in Iceland