Sjónvarp Føroya
Encyclopedia
Sjónvarp Føroya means "Television
of the Faroe Islands
". It is the only public TV station in the small country of 48,000 inhabitants, speaking their own Faroese language
.
The history of SvF goes back to the 1960s. In 1969, the Faroese parliament (Løgting
) decided to found a stock for developing TV facilities on the islands under public law. The law of 1978 arranged the realisation of the network, which was finally founded as Sjónvarp Føroya in 1981. An old furniture store in the capital Tórshavn
was converted into a TV studio in 1983, and on April 1, 1984 the first Faroese programme was launched; however, private local TV associations had by then been transmitting for six years. The regular operation of SVF started on September 1 the same year.
In spring 1985, the former freelancers of Faroese TV were engaged as staff by the Faroese government. Since 1990, other buildings in the neighbourhood were bought in order to enhance the network's premises.
By Faroese law, SvF has the goal of broadcasting one-third of its programmes in the Faroese language
. The other programmes are mostly taken from Danmarks Radio
and are Danish
subtitled movies. In 2003, 27 percent of the SvF's programmes were in Faroese. Apart from children's programmes SVF's own production consists mainly of news and topical magazine items.
SvF funds itself from a combination of television licence
fees, commercials, and bingo.
In 2005, the companies Sjónvarp Føroya and Útvarp Føroya (Radio of the Faroes) were merged into the new company, Kringvarp Føroya.
The station still signs off to a test card, as do others in Europe including Telewizja Polska
, SVT2
and RUV
. SvF currently signs off around midnight to 1am, and signs on around 4-5 pm.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
of the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
". It is the only public TV station in the small country of 48,000 inhabitants, speaking their own Faroese language
Faroese language
Faroese , is an Insular Nordic language spoken by 48,000 people in the Faroe Islands and about 25,000 Faroese people in Denmark and elsewhere...
.
The history of SvF goes back to the 1960s. In 1969, the Faroese parliament (Løgting
Løgting
Løgting is the unicameral parliament of the Faroe Islands, a self-ruling dependency of Denmark.The name literally means "Law Thing" - that is, a law assembly - and derives from Old Norse lǫgþing, which was a name given to ancient assemblies. A ting or Þing has existed on the Faroe Islands for over...
) decided to found a stock for developing TV facilities on the islands under public law. The law of 1978 arranged the realisation of the network, which was finally founded as Sjónvarp Føroya in 1981. An old furniture store in the capital Tórshavn
Tórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
was converted into a TV studio in 1983, and on April 1, 1984 the first Faroese programme was launched; however, private local TV associations had by then been transmitting for six years. The regular operation of SVF started on September 1 the same year.
In spring 1985, the former freelancers of Faroese TV were engaged as staff by the Faroese government. Since 1990, other buildings in the neighbourhood were bought in order to enhance the network's premises.
By Faroese law, SvF has the goal of broadcasting one-third of its programmes in the Faroese language
Faroese language
Faroese , is an Insular Nordic language spoken by 48,000 people in the Faroe Islands and about 25,000 Faroese people in Denmark and elsewhere...
. The other programmes are mostly taken from Danmarks Radio
Danmarks Radio
DR – officially rendered into English as the Danish Broadcasting Corporation – is Denmark's national broadcasting corporation. Founded in 1925 as a public-service organization, it is today Denmark's oldest and largest electronic media enterprise...
and are Danish
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
subtitled movies. In 2003, 27 percent of the SvF's programmes were in Faroese. Apart from children's programmes SVF's own production consists mainly of news and topical magazine items.
SvF funds itself from a combination of television licence
Television licence
A television licence is an official licence required in many countries for the reception of television broadcasts...
fees, commercials, and bingo.
In 2005, the companies Sjónvarp Føroya and Útvarp Føroya (Radio of the Faroes) were merged into the new company, Kringvarp Føroya.
The station still signs off to a test card, as do others in Europe including Telewizja Polska
Telewizja Polska
Telewizja Polska Spółka Akcyjna is Poland's public broadcasting corporation...
, SVT2
SVT2
SVT2, until 1996 TV2, is one of two television channels broadcast by Sveriges Television in Sweden. It was started by Sveriges Radio in 1969. SVT2 is generally more specialist, compared to SVT1.-History:...
and RUV
RÚV
Ríkisútvarpið is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organization.Operating from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country, the service broadcasts a variety of general programming to a wide audience across the whole country via radio...
. SvF currently signs off around midnight to 1am, and signs on around 4-5 pm.
External links
- kringvarp.fo - Homepage (Faroese TV programmes for download)