The channel reform of public service radio in the Nordic countries

The radio systems in the Nordic countries have many similarities. They all have a long tradition of public service radio monopoly that was broken by deregulation. The new commercial stations have created a competitive radio market and the public service companies have been forced to adapt to the new situation. This article reviews the situation by comparing and contrasting the public radio systems in Finland, Sweden, and Norway. The author accounts for the impetus and continuing developmental pressures impacting these systems and highlights some likely trends for the near future.