«News» Ole Torp taken off the air – Dagbladet.no

(Dagbladet): As Dagbladet has previously told NRK management in winter considered cutting «News» Ole Torp.

Debate and timeliness program goes on ITV2, and is described as a very important program for the public debate of known journalists Dagbladet has talked to.

Confirmed: “News” taken off the air

After a lengthy evaluation phase is now clear that NRK has decided to close down the program by the end of this year to cultivate “a younger concept “.

– I can confirm that” News “disappears at year end. But it is not to save money. It is important for me to emphasize that “News” will be replaced by another debate program, said news director at NRK, Per Arne Kalbakk.

The program Kalbakk aiming for should have a noticeably younger audience than “News” has today . The closure of the “News” is therefore not part of NRK Nyheter ongoing cuts rounds.

Bet younger

– We have been developing a new format for television and network that will hit younger than the three debate programs we have today. “Dagsnytt 18″, “debate” and “News” hit all quite similar, says Kalbakk on.

– Have you gotten any responses from Torp and redaction his?

– I have just informed this during a town hall meeting and have not been able to retrieve In some reactions, says Kalbakk.

NRK economy has been under pressure since Culture Thorhild Widvey (H) turned again license crane last year. Kalbakk reiterated that the decision to take away “News” is not linked to savings plans in state channel.

– We have considered all possibilities, but eventually fell down on why we should not cut our debate offers. The change we are doing now is just to try something new and try to reach a younger audience, says Kalbakk.

He has otherwise little details about the new debate program to convey at this time.

– We are still early in the process, he says.

NRK chief Thor Gjermund Eriksen asked last year about 75 NOK license increase per household. Widwey gave him zero. KrF and Left successfully negotiate license up NOK 25 a year, but inflation and inflation taken into consideration becomes reality a significant decline in revenue for Eriksen in 2015, which has announced major cuts in NRK operation.

– Totally tragic

Journalist Profiles Dagbladet has been in contact with previously been clear on the meaning “News” has for the Norwegian public debate.

– Ole Torp and his staff have created an almost iconic program concept of “News” and it will be doubly tragic if it cut out, former NRK anchor Christian Borch previously told Dagbladet.

Also Oddvar Stenstrøm known from Holmgang on TV 2, has previously said that it would be a pity if Torp and “Topics” disappears:

– It is absolutely tragic for the serious journalism if even a debate program disappears. When sitting NRK again with “debate” and “Dagsnytt 18″ that debate venues, which is not good enough. As a government television station they should have daily debates. It is not possible, says Stenstrøm Dagbladet.

Dagbladet Monday tried to get in touch with Ole Torp, without success.