Iceland RÚV Rás 2 on 189 kHz Long Wave

 SIO 553

Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV) (pronounced [ˈriːcɪsˌuːtvar̥pɪð] or [ˈruːv]) (English: 'The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service') is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organization.

Founded in 1930, it operates from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country. RÚV operates an online news service, which is the fourth most visited website in Iceland.^[1] In 2016, 88% of Icelanders consumed RÚV content every week.^[2]

The service broadcasts an assortment of general programming to a wide national audience via two broadcast radio stations: Rás 1 and Rás 2; and one full-time television channel of the same name, RÚV. A supplamentary, part-time TV channel, RÚV 2, transmits live coverage of major cultural and sporting events, as required, as well as some Icelandic programmes with English subtitles. RÚV also distributes online-only channels content for children and the elderly.

RÚV is funded by a flat earmarked government tax collected from every income tax payer,^[3] as well as from on-air advertising. All of RÚV's content is free-to-air and open in Iceland.

History[edit]

The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service commenced operations in 1930 with the launch of Icelandic state radio, Útvarp Reykjavík (Radio Reykjavík). RÚV has been a full active member of the European Broadcasting Union since 1956. In 2023, 

RÚV announced the retirement of its longwave transmissions by 2024.

Longwave broadcasts[edit]

Icelandic radio transmission network in 1981.

RÚV began radio broadcasting on longwave in 1930 at Vatnsendhæð, near Reykjavík. In 1938, the transmitted power was increased 100kW. In 1991, the original 1930 longwave transmitter tower at Vatnsendi collapsed.^[4] As a result, later in the decade the Hellissandur longwave transmitter was taken into use, converted from a LORAN-C mast.^[4]

In 1938, the first medium-wave broadcasting in Iceland commenced in East Iceland at Eiðar. In 1966, the transmitter was converted to longwave, at a power of 20kW. In 1998 the mast was reconstructed at a height of 220m and its power increased to 100kW, at 207kHz.^[5]

RÚV has announced the retirement of its longwave transmissions by 2024, citing its inadequacy as a backup service as most vehicles and radios do not support longwave broadcasts anymore.^[6][7] In 2023, the Eiðar longwave transmitter was demolished, ceasing 207kHz transmissions. ^[6][7]

https://www.ruv.is/