Chronologie
de la télévision en Norvège.
The Fast
Growth of the Monopoly Channel
Historical milestones in the post-war history of NRK -
(Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), until 1981
1936:
First demonstration of television in Norway; a simple entertainment programme shown on
screen in Oslo.
1945:
The number of radio receivers has been drastically reduced since the war [sic! - should
probably read “during the war”, due to the impounding of radios by the nazi
authorities to prevent Norwegians from “listening to London”]. 150.000 radio
receivers in Norway. 150 employees of the NRK. 9 hours of daily radio transmissions.
1946:
Shorter programme formats. Lectures down to 15 or 20 minutes. First female announcer.
Programbladet [“The Radio Times”] established after newspapers unwilling to
print the radio schedules [free of charge].
1947:
Television first mentioned in the Board of Trustees of NRK. First trials with FM
transmitter.
1948:
Kaare Fostervold leaves the government to become first Head of Broadcasting
[“kringkastingssjef”]. Short wave transmitter inaugurated. Parliament decides
that NRK will have a Head of Broadcasting, responsible both for programming and finances.
1950:
300 employees of the NRK. The institution has grown considerably without increases in the
programme offer. First “golden age of radio”; programme quality rapidly
improving. First NRK study group to research television.
1952:
Parliament recommends television trial transmissions.
1954:
First television trial transmissions.
1956:
White paper on television in Norway; some voices raised in support of television financed
by advertising. Without it being publicly stated, the extensive television infrastructure
is made possible by using Armed Forces radio links.
1957:
Parliamentary debate over establishment of television. First two employees of
NRK-Television. Worried cinema industry lobbies successfully to have films screenings
restricted to Mondays; screenings must not begin before 21:15 due to the 19:00 performance
in cinemas.
1958:
First issue of “Dagsrevyen” [“The Daily Review”, i.e. television
news]. Mostly cheap newsreels bought abroad. No visible anchor or commentator.
1960:
400 employees of NRK; approx. 100 in television. Annual budget increased ten-fold in ten
years. Landsorganisasjonen [Norway’s TUC] proposes television-free day to let people
attend meetings. First video recorders; not all programmes need be directly transmitted.
The sign “Technical Malfunction” makes its first appearance. First-time events:
[Friday night] “Detektime” [“The Detective Hour”] with “Perry
Mason”.
Hit parade. Quit or Double [quiz game].
1962:
Hans Jacob Ustvedt appointed Head of Broadcasting. First major debate over experimental
television theatre, headed by Arlid Brinchmann. First plans for radio P2 [programme 2].
Radio is getting set to fight competition from television.
1963:
“Reiseradioen” [literally “The Travel Radio”, but also “The
Portable Radio”] makes first appearance; a precursor of [the extremely popular
morning radio programme] “Nitimen” [“Nine-ish”].
1964:
Richard Herrmann becomes first correspondent abroad. Building of television house started
(finished 1969).
1965:
Fargerådet [“The Colour Council”, a paints and building materials professional
association, advertising co-ordination body and lobbying group] back the first non-NRK
television transmissions.
1968:
The student revolt reaches the NRK. First on-screen utterances about revolution and that
violence must be employed to overturn society. Strong criticism in the press and in
NRK’s Programme Council.
1969:
Internal rows over “the objectivity ideal”, led by Andreas Skartveit and Björn
Nilsen.
1970:
1700 employees of NRK, 1100 in television, 600 in radio. New, young and radical television
programme “Flimra” [i.e. “The Box”] launched. Public Commission
appointed to draft new Broadcasting Law, viewed as necessary to tame rebellious NRK.
1971:
Head of Broadcasting Hans Jacob Ustvedt retires after conflict with his staff.
1972:
New Head of Broadcasting Torolf Elster decides that the NRK’s coverage of the pre-EU
membership plebiscite campaign should be covered as a pro-et-con issue, not following
traditional election campaign lines [i.e. giving political parties proportionally equal
coverage and air time]. Colour television gradually introduced - against strong
opposition. Up to 1975: Radical forces extremely visible in NRK; even programmes for
children and youths are criticised.
1975:
Parliament demands internal discipline; radical forces calm down. Stable years with
quality programmes and less criticism until 1981.
1977:
[Journalist and former NRK correspondent] Gidske Anderson’s article
“NRK-monopolet er meningslöst” [“The Impossibility of the NRK
Monopoly”] releases considerable attention. Höyre [the conservative party] and
Kristelig Folkeparti [“The Christian People’s Party”] put [dissolution of]
the NRK monopoly on their political agendas.
1980:
2300 employees of NRK, 1600 in television and 700 in radio.
1981:
Minister of Culture Lars Roar Langslet breaks the NRK monopoly by granting licenses to
local radios and television broadcasters, and to satellite television.
Translated from Aftenposten, Oslo, 1 March 1999.
Références
bibliographiques
DAHL,
Hans Fredrik, Hallo - Hallo! : kringkastingen i Norge 1920-1940. Cappelen,:Oslo,
1975. - 426 s. : ill. ISBN 82-02-03155-9, 82-02-03156-7
DAHL, Hans Fredrik, "Dette er London" : NRK i krig 1940-1945.,
Cappelen, Oslo, 1978. -
416 s. : ill. ISBN 82-02-03929-0, 82-02-03928-2
DAHL, Hans Fredrik, "Over til Oslo!" : NRKs historie 1945-1981.,
Cappelen, Oslo, 1999.
ISBN 82-02-17644-1
Voir
également : SYVERSTEN T., "Das Rundfunksystem Norwegens" in
HANS-BREDOW-INSTITUT, Internationales Handbuch für Hörfunk und Fernsehen, Nomos
Verlag, Baden-Baden, 1998 (="The radio and television system in Norway, in
HANS-BREDOW-INSTITUT, Radio and Television Systems in Northern Europe and the Baltics, European
Audiovisual Observatory, Strasbourg, 1998.) (="Le système de
radio-télévision en Norvège" in HANS-BREDOW-INSTITUT, Systèmes de radio et
télévision dans dans l’Europe du Nord et les Etats baltes, Observatoire
européen de l’audiovisuel, Strasbourg, 1998).
Remerciement
à Nils Klevjer Aas pour la communication de l'information et la traduction du
norvégien.
