RÚV (TV channel)

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.

History
The network made its first transmission on 30 September 1966 on channel. To begin with, transmissions only took place on Wednesdays and Fridays, only gradually expanding to the rest of the week through the years, but there were no transmissions on Thursdays. In addition, no television was broadcast in July. Transmissions in July began in 1983. Sjónvarpið was the first public television channel in Iceland and also the first to broadcast in the Icelandic language, although Armed Forces Radio and Television Service Keflavik broadcast an English language television service from Naval Air Station Keflavik from 1951 until 2006. Having lost its monopoly and sharing the market with Stöð 2 a year before, Sjónvarpið ended the era of television-free Thursdays on 1 October 1987, resulting in the first full week of television in Iceland.

While the first station was headquartered in Reykjavík, repeaters were installed over the next years in Vestmannaeyjar (channel 5, on 30 September 1966), Stykkishólmur (channel 3, on 17 May 1967), Skálafell (channel 4, on 22 December 1967), Hoffell (channel 7, on 23 December 1967), Vaðlaheiði (channel 6, on 1 December 1968) and Hegranes (channel 8, on 13 December 1968).

Test colour transmission commenced in 1973 and started full-time in 1976. From September 1981 onwards, the channel greatly benefited from Iceland's connection to the rest of the world via satellite. Starting on March 1, 1982, Icelandic television viewers were able to watch daily reports from abroad on their evening newscast. Live broadcasts from the rest of Europe, such as the Eurovision Song Contest, commenced for the first time in May 1986.

RÚV's teletext service, Textavarpið, was inaugurated on the 25th anniversary of Icelandic television in 1991.

As late as 2000, television only aired for 8 hours each day, starting at around 4:35 pm and ending at around 12:35 am on weekdays. The number of hours of television aired per week changes every week and day, with transmissions during the weekend being the longest. RÚV currently starts at 7 am on Saturdays and Sundays. During the week, however, transmissions still start between 3 pm and 5:30 pm and end between midnight and 1:30 am. During downtime, the station carries its daily schedule and a news ticker, complete with audio from Rás 2.

Since its establishment in 1966, RÚV broadcast using the analogue 625-line PAL standard over the very high frequency band until the analogue switchoff in 2015.

In 2004 RÚV became available over broadband and fibre Internet Protocol television systems of Síminn and Vodafone Iceland.

In May 2007, RÚV began direct satellite TV broadcasts from Intelsat 10-02 satellite with a frequency of 11182 V 3100 7/8.

Preparations for high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasts began in 2012, when two new 1080i play-out systems were installed. Digital HDTV broadcasts commenced in 2014 following an agreement signed with Vodafone Iceland on 27 March 2013 to install and run two new shared digital multiplexes using DVB-T2 (for HD transmissions) and DVB-T (for SD transmissions) over ultra high frequency bands. Analogue transmissions were shut down on 2 February 2015. Transmissions on the older DVB-T system in standard definition ceased on 3 June 2024, however DVB-T2 broadcasts in HD only remain.

Broadcasts were also previously available over Vodafone Iceland's Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service and Síminn Breiðband cable TV services, which have both been discontinued.

Test cards
From the inauguration of Sjónvarpið in 1966 until as late as 1982, an electronically generated, heavily modified version of the Philips PM5540 monochrome test card was utilised during off-air hours, with the words Ríkisútvarpið SJÓNVARP occasionally appearing in the top and bottom black segments respectively.

In the early-1970s, the Philips PM5544 test card was introduced for colour transmissions and gradually replaced the previous monochrome test card, with the time and date included in the PM5544 test card from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2006. In 2009, the Philips PM5644 widescreen test card was introduced to replace its PM5544 forerunner. In 2011, the test card was discontinued when an overnight filler programme similar to ITV Nightscreen was introduced during RÚV's off-air hours.

Distribution
Terrestrial broadcasts are in 1080i HD on a UHF DVB-T2 network operated by Vodafone Iceland 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.

RÚV offers direct satellite TV broadcasts using the Thor 5 satellite over DVB-S, in order to service fishing fleets around Iceland and remote areas where the terrestrial network does not reach. Telenor ASA runs the service by contract until 2024, this service is encrypted and is only available on request. Satellite distribution is due to cease in summer 2024.

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, through OTT services as well as on their website. RÚV also offers an app for Apple TV, iOS, Android TV and Android.

As of 2023, RÚV's teletext channel, Textavarpið, is still operating over DVB, managed IPTV and on the web at textavarp.is.

Programming
RÚV broadcasts various original and foreign programming. Around 30% of Icelanders watch RÚV's nightly news, Fréttir. RÚV 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.

Recent original programming that RÚV has produced is listed as follows (recurring and one-off):

Recurring

 * Fréttir, the main news programme at 7 p.m.
 * Kastljós, a news/talk programme (similar to Newsnight)
 * Kveikur, an explanatory news programme (similar to BBC's Panorama)
 * Gettu betur, a long-running game/quiz show
 * Vikan með Gísla Marteini, an entertainment/talk show
 * Landinn, a programme about rural locations in Iceland
 * Áramótaskaupið, a New Year's Eve comedy special with an audience of up to 90% of viewers
 * Jóladagatal Sjónvarpsins, an ongoing series of televised Advent calendars.
 * Stundin Okkar, children's programme since 1966
 * Söngvakeppnin, annual music competition used to select Iceland's representative to the Eurovision Song Contest

Other original programming

 * Verbúðin (Blackport), a series set in the 1980s in the Westfjords.
 * Brot (The Valhalla Murders)
 * Ófærð (Trapped), a mystery drama series set in Seyðisfjörður.
 * Ráðherran (The Minister)
 * Latibær (LazyTown)
 * Spaugstofan
 * Sigla himinfley, a 4-part drama mini-series