TV 2 (Norwegian TV channel)

As is common with television (and cinema) in Norway, most foreign-language shows and segments of local programmes with foreign language dialogues (e.g. interviews with foreigners) are

The channel was renamed from TV 2 to TV 2 Direkte in 2023, in an attempt to differentiate it from their streaming servive TV 2 Play (not to be confused for the Danish service with the same name). Although direkte means "Live", far from all programming on the channel is actually broadcast live.

The channel was free-to-air on terrestrial TV from its launch date until 1 January 2010, when it became a pay-TV channel. On cable TV and satellite it was de facto a pay-TV channel from the start.

History

In 1990, the Storting opened the way for an advertising-financed alternative to NRK to be established. The license was announced on 31 January 1991, with the requirement that no owner could own more than 20 per cent of the shares in the channel. There were many interested parties for the concession, and among others Schibsted, Egmont, Orkla, a grouping around Rolf Wesenlund and Arne Fjørtoft and an investor group called NTN went with plans to apply for the license. The license as won by TV 2 AS in 1991. The company was a consortium owned by Schibsted, Vital Forsikring, Gutenberghus, NTN, Selvaag, Bergens Tidende and Sissel Ditlevsen.