Several sources of BT: 2 TV says no to government agreement – Bergens Tidende

Now the main office in danger of being moved from Bergen.

TV 2 does not seek the government’s agreement to become commercial broadcaster, according to several sources close to the process. The decision was taken at a telephone conference on Wednesday morning, but being first unveiled in time 16 today when the deadline for applying expires.

This means that Norway from January of will not have any channels with kommerisiell broadcaster obligations – which in turn means that the channel is free to move from Bergen they wish.

on Solberg guard

the decision comes as no surprise to those who have followed the case closely. TV2′s chief editor Olav T. Sandnes has run a high stake before the announcement and expressed a desire for a production subsidies rather than a license obligations.

An annual sum of between 300 and 400 million has been mentioned. The figure is based on a report from NHH professor Trond Bjørnenak, which has estimated that this amount TV2 loser on running news production, and be based in Bergen.

In the government parties have TV2′s tough line caused tension . Now, however, the TV channel created them a big problem. Can Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Minister of Industry Monica Mæland, both Bergen, enter the option with a disused TV 2 on their guard?

– Has failed Bergen

parliamentary elections in 2009 took Ap credited with having saved the Bergen office. Now Old Maid game already in progress.

– The Government has failed Bergen, TV2 and the parliamentary majority. Parties in Parliament was clear that the government had put forward an agreement that compensates for the costs it entails to be a public broadcaster and be based in Bergen. The government ignored this and now we see the results, says Deputy Chief Commissioner Dag Inge Ulstein (KrF).

– There is no drama, and not very surprising that TV 2 is not seeking at this interim announcement. It illustrates that we are in a period of major changes in technology and media habits, in which the right to communication via cable TV is less important than the former. For this reason, all requirements other than daily newscasts and localization in Bergen taken out of the announcement, said Culture Minister Linda Hofstad Helleland (H) in a press release.

Think news continues

Today’s agreement between the government and TV2 originally expired at year-end but was by agreement between the parties extended by one year the 2016. the parties have long been in talks to get a new appointment.

the government, however, refused to be pressured on the issue of state subsidies. To buy more time announced the May a three-year, temporary appointment. Here was most content requirement removed.

The only thing that remained was that the channel will continue to offer news production, and be based in Bergen. In BT magasinsak “struggle for existence” is the last point estimated to have a cost of between 50 and 80 million.

Everything indicates that it is the head office in Bergen living most dangerous. Few believe that TV2 is serious about quitting the news.

– I think that TV2 will continue to make news, but if it gets from Bergen is another question, says Trond Solvang, director of Klubb2 and news reporter based in Bergen, the journalist.

Political pressure

the question now is how much current no be read as a press agent into the Ministry of Culture’s ongoing efforts to establish a permanent broadcaster agreements. Sources BT has talked to TV2 says chief editor Olav T. Sandnes playing a high game, and that he, in the worst risks be left without any form of public broadcaster deal in the future.

Others believe, however, that there was so few benefits in the government’s new agreement that it was not to be expected that TV2 should apply.

Regardless Sandnes line totally different than his predecessors Alf Hildrum and Kaare Valebrokk. For them, the news production part of the TV channel DNA, which gave them credibility and separated them from the TV 3 and TV Norway. Sandnes is news production is produced as an expense as they want compensation.

HBO and Netflix

TV 2 is experiencing a dramatic restructuring process and to cut 350 million kroner in annual expenses by 2020. The challenges to TV

Digitization creates challenges. The monopoly on conducting free TV on transmission network are long history. In addition, dissemination right on the cable network becoming less worthwhile. Internet streaming and foreign companies like HBO, Netflix and YouTube have changed the whole picture.

In the morning enlightens MTG, VG and Discovery that they are not going to apply for the temporary license.

– Here we are talking about establishing a head office and a news production for linear TV in Bergen and this should then be profitable in two to three years, competition with TV 2. I call commercial suicide for anyone other than TV2, says Trygve Rønningen in MTG, owner of including TV3.