In reaction to demands that national broadcaster RÚV launch a special channel for sports and cultural events, RÚV’s director Páll Magnússon said it will cost ISK 100 million (USD 789,000, EUR 504,000) and is out of the question during the economic crisis but is contemplating other options.
Golfing in Iceland. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Magnússon told Morgunbladid that it is considerably less expensive to operate such a channel digitally and that said it is possible that sports and cultural events may distributed in such a manner in four to five years.
RÚV has been criticized in the past for disrupting the regular program with live broadcasts from events such as the Olympics and the Eddas, the Icelandic Film and Television Awards.
In July, the children’s morning program was disrupted because of the British Open Golf Championship, which upset a number of viewers.
Magnússon explained that RÚV has many obligations to fulfill and that sometimes one group of viewers has to be granted its wish at the cost of others. Decisions on such measures are always made after careful consideration.
However, a new channel could solve this problem and regular programs would not have to be disrupted due to broadcast from live events such as the golf championship.
