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Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped guide some of America’s most important early space missions while she confronted the racial and gender barriers faced by Black women in twentieth-century America.
MORE →Reflects the personal views, recollections, and perspective of the author, Mike Davis.
This is a personal recollection on the Move fire on May 13, 1985
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| Type | Television, radio and web |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Availability | National; International via satellite (Thor 5) and online (selected programmes) |
| Motto | RÚV okkar allra (RÚV of all of us) |
| TV stations | 2 |
| TV transmitters | 146 |
| Radio stations | 3 |
| Radio transmitters | 230 |
| Revenue | 7.9 billion ISK |
| 174 million ISK | |
| Headquarters | Reykjavík |
| Owner | State-owned |
Key people | Stefán Eiríksson (director general) |
Launch date | 1930 (incorporation; radio) 1966 (television) |
Official website | ruv.is |
| Language | Icelandic |
Ríkisútvarpið (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈriːcɪsˌuːtvar̥pɪð], lit. 'National Broadcasting'; abbr. RÚV [ˈruːv]) is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organization.
Founded in 1930, it operates from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country. RÚV operates an online news service, which is the fourth most visited website in Iceland.[1] In 2016, 88% of Icelanders consumed RÚV content every week.[2]
The service broadcasts an assortment of general programming to a wide national audience via two broadcast radio stations: Rás 1 and Rás 2; and one full-time television channel of the same name, RÚV. A supplementary, part-time TV channel, RÚV 2 is also broadcast for special events. It also distributes online-only channels and content for children and the elderly.
RÚV is funded by a flat earmarked government tax collected from every income tax payer,[3] as well as from on-air advertising. All of RÚV's content is free-to-air and open in Iceland.
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service commenced operations in 1930 with the launch of Icelandic state radio, Útvarp Reykjavík (Radio Reykjavík). RÚV has been a full active member of the European Broadcasting Union since 1956.
Icelandic radio broadcasting began on longwave in 1930 at Vatnsendhæð, as Útvarp Reykjavík, near Reykjavík, this station would later be called Rás 1.
In 1991, the original Longwave transmitter tower at Vatnsendahæð collapsed during a storm.[4] Subsequently, the Hellissandur longwave transmitter was taken into use in 1999, making it Western Europe's tallest radio mast during its time of operation.[4] At the same time, longwave broadcasts became a mix of Rás 1 and Rás 2 content. Longwave transmissions were intended to fill gaps in the FM coverage, serve the Icelandic fishing fleet and serve as a back up during emergencies.[5]
In 2023-2024, RÚV discontinued longwave services due its inadequacy as a backup service as most vehicles and radios do not support longwave broadcasts anymore.[6] In 2023, the Eiðar longwave transmitter was demolished, followed by the Hellissandur longwave transmitter ceasing broadcasts in September 2024 while the mast remained in place, marking the end of longwave broadcasts in Iceland.[5][6][7]
Shortwave broadcasts were used for long distance transmission, mostly for seafarers and Icelanders abroad. They were used intermittently for important broadcasts. Shortwave broadcasts ceased on 1 July 2007, after the introduction of satellite broadcasts.[8]
FM broadcasting began in 1959 at its main Vatnsendi site, later expanding nationwide. Stereo transmissions began in 1980.[9] In 1983 RÚV's second radio station was launched, Rás 2. The original station was then renamed Rás 1. In 2023, as a result of longwave transmissions retiring, RÚV committed to expanding the FM network.[10][4]
In 2004, RÚV launched a non-talk, automated classical and jazz radio station called Rondó, based on the word rondo. In 2020, Rondó was discontinued on FM (due to the closure of Vatnsendi site) but continued on DVB and on the internet.[11]
RÚV commenced television transmissions in 1966, and colour transmissions began in 1977. In 1981, the first live satellite programmes were broadcast, from the then-newly inaugurated satellite ground station Skyggnir.[4]
Since 1986, the year in which its monopoly as the only permitted domestic broadcaster ended, RÚV has faced competition from a number of private broadcasting companies, most notably the 365 corporation.
RÚV's teletext service, Textavarpið, was inaugurated on the 25th anniversary of Icelandic television in 1991. As of 2023 it is still operating.[12]
In May 2007, RÚV began direct satellite TV broadcasts over DVB-S, supplemented by Rás 1 and Rás 2 over satellite DTV radio, in order to service fishing fleets around Iceland and remote areas where the terrestrial network does not reach. Telenor ASA ran the service until it ceased by mid-2025. The service was encrypted and was only available on request.[13][14]
High definition digital television broadcasts in 1080i began in 2013, over a new digital terrestrial DVB-T2 network. Television was broadcast in analogue until the digital switchover in 2015, when the last analogue transmitter at Vatnsendi was switched off. The analogue transmissions used a network of 180 analogue transmitters.[15] However, most users access RÚV content by managed IPTV services or over-the-top services.
In 2021, television transmissions for the Reykjavík area were moved from Vatnsendi to Úlfarsfell, ending 70 years of broadcasting from the location.[16]
RÚV is obliged by the terms of its charter to "promote the Icelandic language, Icelandic history, and Iceland's cultural heritage" and "honour basic democratic rules, human rights, and the freedom of speech and opinion".[17] It carries a substantial amount of arts, media, and current affairs programming, in addition to which it also supplies general entertainment in the form of feature films and such internationally popular television drama series as Lost and Desperate Housewives. RÚV's lineup also includes sports coverage, documentaries, domestically produced entertainment shows, and children's programming.
The RÚV newsroom, providing news for both television and radio, is amongst the most time-honoured and respected in Iceland. On weekdays, the Rás 2 radio network includes 35 minutes of regional opt-outs for local news coverage.
Gettu betur is a popular annual quiz tournament pitting teams from senior secondary schools around Iceland against each other in five rounds which are broadcast on radio and TV. Popular viewing also includes the Eurovision Song Contest, in which RÚV has participated representing Iceland since 1986 and until 2025. In sports, RÚV traditionally carries live coverage of such major events as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, although it lost the right to broadcast the 2006 World Cup, having been outbid by commercial broadcaster 365 in 2002. It did, however, show the 2010 World Cup tournament.
RÚV broadcasts two linear television channels and three radio stations, each with a certain target market. In accordance with its duty as a public broadcasting service, Sjónvarpið, the television network, broadcasts a news bulletin in Icelandic Sign Language for the deaf and hard of hearing. In addition, the Rás 1 radio channel broadcasts detailed weather reports for the benefit of Icelandic seafarers and others.
Those who watch television on the internet outside Iceland can only watch selected programs on RÚV and RÚV 2 channels due to broadcasting rights.[19]
As of 2023, most of the population accesses RÚV through the internet. FM radio broadcasts remain popular however, 30% of Icelanders listen to Rás 1 and 61% listen to Rás 2 in a given week. This can be attributed to Iceland's high car ownership.[20][21]
RÚV's radio stations, Rás 1 and Rás 2, are broadcast on FM through a network of 230 FM transmitters.[10] RÚV intends to strengthen its FM network over the coming years in light of their plan to closing their longwave services in 2024.[6]
The radio stations are also broadcast via terrestrial DTV radio on DVB-T2, as well as through internet radio. There are no plans to implement DAB radio in Iceland.[22]
The television network, RÚV and RÚV 2, is broadcast terrestrially in 1080i HD on a DVB-T2 network operated by Sýn by contract until 2028. The broadcasts are free-to-air and reach 99.9% of the population. According to a 2022 survey, only 1% of the population uses terrestrial broadcasts to watch RÚV.[20]
Due to the prevalence of fiber internet connections in Iceland, the most popular way to view broadcasts is through the internet. RÚV is available through managed IPTV systems on Síminn and Vodafone. RÚV also offers all of its content on their website, as well as through OTT services. RÚV also offers an app for Apple TV, iOS, Android TV and Android. Webcasts are open and free when accessed from Iceland, however some programming is not available internationally due to licensing issues. It is possible to login using an Icelandic digital ID to have full access to broadcasts internationally.[23]
| Distribution method | Market share |
|---|---|
| Terrestrial broadcasts (DVB) | 1% |
| IPTV set-top box (Síminn/Sýn) | 64% |
| OTT services (e.g. Apple TV app) | 27% |
| Website | 7% |
| Other | 1% |
| International | |
|---|---|
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
Source: Wikipedia. Article content is retrieved live through the MediaWiki API.
Ríkisútvarpið (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈriːcɪsˌuːtvar̥pɪð], lit. 'National Broadcasting'; abbr. RÚV [ˈruːv]) is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organization. Founded in 1930, it operates from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country. RÚV operates an online news service, which is the fourth most visited website in Iceland. In 2016, 88% of Icelanders consumed RÚV content every week. The service broadcasts an assortment of general programming to a wide national audience via two broadcast radio stations: Rás 1 and Rás 2; and one full-time television channel of the same name, RÚV. A supplementary, part-time TV channel, RÚV 2 is also broadcast for special events. It also distributes online-only channels and content for children and the elderly. RÚV is funded by a flat earmarked government tax collected from every income tax payer, as well as from on-air advertising. All of RÚV's content is free-to-air and open in Iceland.
RÚV is the main television channel of RÚV, the Icelandic public broadcaster, launched in 1966. The free-to-air channel broadcasts primarily news, sports, entertainment, cultural programs, children's material, original Icelandic programming as well as American, British and Nordic content. Among its highest-rated programs are the comedy sketch show Spaugstofan, mystery drama Ófærð (Trapped) and Fréttir (News). It is the Icelandic Olympic Broadcaster and has also usually holds rights to the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro competitions. It is a member of the European Broadcasting Union and is responsible for selecting Iceland's entries to the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Hellissandur radio mast (Icelandic: Langbylgjustöðin á Gufuskálum [ˈlauŋkˌpɪlcʏˌstœːðɪn auː ˈkʏːvʏˌskauːlʏm]) is a 412 m (1,352 ft) tall guyed radio mast formerly used for longwave radio transmissions of RÚV (The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service) and the North Atlantic LORAN-C chain. It is situated at Gufuskálar [ˈkʏːvʏˌskauːlar̥], near Hellissandur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula of West Iceland. It was, for a time, the tallest longwave radio mast in the world, and is currently the tallest above ground structure in Western Europe. It formed part of RÚV's longwave service, and was intended to fill in the gaps of the FM radio spectrum, serve seafarers, and act as a critical communications facility. It previously operated in parallel with the less powerful Eiðar longwave transmitter to provide nationwide longwave coverage. The mast is insulated against the ground, and guyed at five levels by steel ropes which are subdivided by insulators. It was built in 1963 to replace the 190.5 m (625 ft) tall LORAN-C mast, constructed in 1959 for the North Atlantic LORAN-C chain (GRD 7970). A second, smaller, 30 m (98 ft) tall tower was installed by the US Coast Guard in the autumn of 1961 as part of a LORAN-A network paired with Greenland. The LORAN-C scheme closed in 1994. In 1991, the original RÚV longwave transmitter towers, erected in 1930, at Vatnsendi (near Reykjavík) collapsed. As the Hellissandur mast was free for use, it was converted for use by RÚV (The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service) for its longwave transmissions on 189 kHz at a power of 300 kilowatts in 1997. In 2023 RÚV announced the retirement of all its longwave transmissions by 2024, citing its inadequacy as a backup service, as most consumer radio equipment no longer supports longwave broadcasts. The Eiðar site was earmarked for demolition in 2023. The Hellissandur transmitter went off the air on 5 September 2024 and on 17 October it was officially announced as closed. The mast remains in place.
Iceland has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 37 times since its debut in 1986. It has missed only three (soon to be four) contests since then, in 1998 and 2002, when prevented from competing due to finishing outside qualification places the preceding years, and the 2026 and 2027 contests due to the inclusion of Israel in the context of the Gaza war. The country's best result is second place, which it achieved with "All Out of Luck" by Selma in 1999 and "Is It True?" by Yohanna in 2009. The Icelandic participating broadcaster in the contest is Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV), which select its entrant with the national competition Söngvakeppnin. Iceland has achieved a total of seven top ten placements, with the others being "Eitt lag enn" by Stjórnin finishing fourth (1990), "Nei eða já" by Heart 2 Heart seventh (1992), "Open Your Heart" by Birgitta eighth (2003), "Hatrið mun sigra" by Hatari tenth (2019), and "10 Years" by Daði og Gagnamagnið fourth (2021). Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Iceland has failed to qualify for the final nine times, including four years consecutively (2015–18). To date, Iceland is the only Nordic country that has yet to win the contest.
Before the 1921 destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, Black residents had created a remarkable center of business and community life. The district included stores, professional offices, entertainment venues and homes owned by Black citizens. Understanding Greenwood means learning what was built—not only what was burned.
MORE →The Greenwood District.
