Media on the Faroe Islands

A look into the control room of KVF. The television news ‘Dagur og vika’ is broadcast four times a week. ÓLAVUR FREDERIKSEN/TRAP FAROE ISLANDS, 2022

At the end of 2020, the written media market consisted of four newspapers: Dimmalætting, Norðlýsið, Sosialurin and Oyggjatíðindi as well as a number of internet news portals. Some are linked to the newspapers, while others are staffed by a single or a small handful of employees. Newspapers and portals are financed via advertisements, private enterprises and media support.

Historically, the Faroe Islands have had 27 different newspapers, and newspaper history can be divided into five periods: Føringatíðindi was published nine times in 1852 and marked the beginning of the first period (1852‑1890). It was not until 1877 that the next newspaper, Dimmalætting, was published. Then came the period known as the golden age (1890‑1946). Towards the turn of the century, several newspapers appeared. The first local newspaper, Norðlýsið, was founded in 1915. The publication of Føroya Sosial Demokrat (later Sosialurin) started in 1927, and Dagblaðið, which later became the mouthpiece of the Faroese People’s Party, subscribed to centre-right wing in 1935. Most newspapers were only published for a few years, and the newspaper debate was characterised by national revival and industrialisation. The third period (1946‑1990) was characterised by the flourishing of the party press. The Cold War created a sounding board for debate, and party political journalism intensified. The four major parties each had their own newspaper; in addition to Sosialurin (Javnaðarflokkurin), Dagblaðið (Fólkaflokkurin) and Dimmalætting (Sambandsflokkurin), the newspaper 14. september was published in 1947 and became the mouthpiece of Tjóðveldi.

The emergence of the radio Útvarp Føroya in 1957 reduced the importance of newspapers as news agencies. The composition of the party press remained fairly stable until the 1990s. The beginning of the fourth period (1990‑2008) was characterised by crisis. About 13 % of the population emigrated, newspaper sales fell drastically and several newspapers closed. The fall of communism and the rise of internet media represented changes in the context and publishing opportunities, and the newspapers’ became less associated with the political parties. Sosialurin launched Internet Sosialurin in 1998, and several small news portals followed suit.

The fifth period (2008 to now) is faced with the same drastic changes in the media landscape as in other countries. The newspapers compensated for the decline in newspaper sales after the financial crisis by introducing online subscriptions, which were not as profitable. Advertising revenue was further challenged by the US tech giants, which provided a platform for cheaper advertising. After bankruptcy, Dimmalætting was relaunched as a weekly newspaper in 2014.

The private media’s resources never rose to the same level as before the financial crisis. In 2016, the government decided to support these media in the form of an annual subsidy of DKK 2 million.

Útvarp Føroya – Radio of the Faroe Islands

In 1957, following a decision by the Løgting, the public Faroese radio, Útvarp Føroya (ÚF), began to broadcast news, weather forecast and talk and music broadcasts for an hour and a half every day. In the 1960s, the range of programmes was expanded with live broadcasts and radio dramas. Revenue came from licence fees and advertising. In 1969, the V4 Lottery gave ÚF the opportunity to start the necessary modernisation, and in 1982, ÚF moved into a new broadcasting house. Broadcast time was gradually extended to 24 hours towards the turn of the millennium.

From the beginning, ÚF was characterised by a public service mindset, which meant that the radio contributed significantly to social cohesion. In 2005, ÚF merged with the public television channel, Sjónvarp Føroya (SVF), resulting in Kringvarp Føroya (KVF).

Sjónvarp Føroya – Television of the Faroe Islands

Following a decision by the Løgting, public television, Sjónvarp Føroya, started broadcasting in 1984. Revenue came from licence fees and advertising, but the population base meant that resources were scarce. In addition to a weekly news broadcast, focus was on children’s and cultural programmes. In the first years, broadcasts were not transmitted every day of the week, and based on agreement with DR (the Danish Broadcasting Corporation) and TV 2 (Danish government-owned broadcast and subscription television station), SVF filled in the programme schedule by retransmitting their programmes. There were no resources to translate these programmes into Faroese.

The range of programmes was gradually expanded to include more Faroese news and current affairs programmes, sports and transmissions from religious services and meetings. In 1997, the Gekkurin bingo was launched, which provided significant extra annual revenue. SVF entered into the first Faroese public service agreement with the authorities in 1998. Broadcasts were transmitted every evening of the week, but the television news were broadcast four times a week.

Kringvarp Føroya – Broadcasting Service of the Faroe Islands

From the beginning, Kringvarp Føroya (KvF) operated according to a model similar to that of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation and other public service media in neighbouring countries. The first public service contract was concluded with the authorities in 2011, and the concept of public service was gradually expanded from being of an educational nature in the service of society and the public to also being in the service of the people. In addition to current programmes, great focus is on children’s programmes. The radio broadcasts exclusively in Faroese, and on television, the Faroese programmes are supplemented with mainly Nordic public service programs which have not been translated into Faroese. Revenue comes mainly from licence fees, which are now charged as a tax. The Gekkurin bingo still provides a significant supplement. Revenue from advertising goes into a public service pool that other media have access to.

Other electronic media

Radio station Lindin was founded in 2000 and today broadcasts Christian programmes around the clock. The revenue comes from supporters and various enterprises.

Over the years, a number of attempts have been made to establish radio stations with associated internet programmes based on advertising revenue and sponsorships. However, these did not survive for long. The most significant was R7, which emerged in 2015 as a more centreright and regional alternative to KVF. R7 stopped at the end of 2020 and was replaced by Radio.fo, the objectives of which are the same as R7.

Further reading

Read more about Culture on the Faroe Islands

  • Ivan Hentze Niclasen

    (b. 1960) MA in History and MA in Globalisation and Integration. CEO of Kringvarp Føroya.

  • Rógvi Olavson

    (b. 1983) MSc in Cultural Sociology and MSc in Political Communication and Management. Former journalist at the Broadcasting Service of the Faroe Islands and current lecturer in media and political communication at the University of the Faroe Islands.