1 Review of NRK's existing services on new media platforms June 2010 The Norwegian Media Authority 2 To the Ministry of Culture The Norwegian Media Authority refers to the letter from the Ministry of Culture of 20 October 2009, in which the Norwegian Media Authority is requested to carry out a review of NRK's existing services on new media platforms. The purpose of the review is to ensure that NRK's new services fall within the public broadcasting mandate as it follows from the NRK Guidelines [NRK-plakaten] and the company statutes. The review of the Norwegian Media Authority is presented in this report. Fredrikstad, 29 June 2010 Gudbrand Guthus head of department licensing and supervision Live Nermoen adviser Yngvar Kjus 3 Table of content 1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Task................................................................................................................................................................4 1.1.1 Reason for task............................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.2 The Norwegian Media Authority's understanding of the task........................................................................4 1.2 Premises of the Norwegian Media Authority's review and assessments........................................................6 1.2.1 Relations to activities on traditional media platforms....................................................................................6 1.2.2 The NRK Statutes ..................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2.2.1 Requirements to NRK's new media platforms...............................................................................................8 1.2.2.2 NRK's other statutory provisions............................................................................................................9 1.3 Information on NRK's existing services on new media platforms.................................................................9 1.4 Categorisation of services .......................................................................................................................10 2 Review of NRK's existing services on new media platforms.......................................................................12 2.1 Internet..................................................................................................................................................12 2.1.1 Re-publication of radio stations and television channels.......................................................................12 2.1.2 Extension of radio and television programmes.....................................................................................13 2.1.3 Separate Internet radio and Internet television service provision.................................................................15 2.1.4 Fixed subject areas and target groups...........................................................................................................16 2.1.5 Interactive participation................................................................................................................................19 2.1.5.1 Debate forum.........................................................................................................................................20 2.1.5.2 Games...........................................................................................................................................................20 2.1.5.3 Meeting places and sharing services............................................................................................................21 2.1.6 Data base services.................................................................................................................................23 2.1.6.1 Data base services based on editorial activity..............................................................................................23 2.1.6.2 Playlists and results......................................................................................................................................24 2.1.6.3 Reference works and learning materials.......................................................................................................25 2.1.6.4 Useful services based on collaboration with external parties...............................................................26 2.1.7 Activity on external web sites......................................................................................................................37 2.1.8 Information pages on NRK's service provision............................................................................................38 2.2 Mobil devices platforms........................................................................................................................40 2.2.1 Mobile television/mobile device services that republish content.........................................................40 2.2.2 Mobile device services that are part of the editorial activity........................................................................41 2.3 Digital radio and television...................................................................................................................45 2.4 Services for external platforms.............................................................................................................48 3 Summary and concluding remarks.......................................................................................................50 3.1 Summary...................................................................................................................................................... 50 3.2 Concluding remarks.....................................................................................................................................50 Enclosure: The NRK Statutes, part II NRK's public broadcasting mandate 4 1 Introduction 1.1 Task 1.1.1 Reason for the task In a letter dated 20 October 2009 from the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs (now the Ministry of Culture, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry), the Ministry requested that the Norwegian Media Authority carry out a review of NRK's existing services on new media platforms. According to the letter: The purpose of the review shall be to ensure that NRK's new media services fall within the public broadcasting mandate as it follows from the NRK Guidelines [NRK-plakaten] and the company statutes. The reason for the task is a case between the EFTA Surveillance Authority (hereinafter referred to as ESA) and Norway concerning the funding of NRK. The case commenced due to a complaint of 1 April 2003 from TV 2 Nettavisen AS concerning the alleged cross-subsidisation of NRK's teletext and NRK.no. ESA started a general examination of the Norwegian system of state aid of public broadcasting, i.e. the license fee financing of NRK. The dialogue between ESA and NRK took place at the same time as the European Commission initiated similar reviews in several EU member states. ESA concluded that the financing of NRK was not in accordance with the EEA Agreement rules on state aid. For state aid of public broadcasting to be legal, a number of conditions must be met, including drawing up a clear official definition of which services are encompassed within the public broadcasting mandate and that as such are entitled to public aid. 1 On 8 July 2009, ESA gave a statement on the case (Dec. No 306/09/COL). ESA requested that Norwegian authorities put in place a number of measures concerning the financing of NRK, including the carrying out of a review of NRK's existing services on new media platforms. Amongst other things, the ESA letter reads: Furthermore, the Authority requests that the Norwegian authorities to put in place measures in order to ensure that the Media Authority will examine all NRK’s existing services on the new media platforms and assess whether they fall within the public service remit. (p. 40) In a reply letter to ESA dated 13 October 2009, the Ministry accepts ESA's order: The Media Authority drafts an annual report on the public service activities of the NRK. The report for the year 2009 will include an assessment of the existing service offered by the NRK on new media platforms. The public service remit as formalized in the new company statutes, in particular article 17, will constitute the formal basis for this assessment. (p. 2) In a letter dated 3 February 2010 ESA closed the case, but presupposed the following, amongst other things: Third, with regard to the proposal for scrutiny of NRK's current activities by the Media Authority with the view to assessing whether they fall within the public service remit, the Norwegian authorities have made a commitment to instruct the Media Authority to carry out an assessment and to include it in the annual report on the public service activities of NRK for the year 2009. This evaluation will be made on the basis of the newly adopted NRK's Company Statutes. The Norwegian authorities have informally indicated that this report will be published in May-June 2010. (Dec. No 36/10/COL, p. 3) 1.1.2 The Norwegian Media Authority's understanding of the task The task is to assess whether NRK's existing services on new media platforms