Sweden

[SE] 507 Million SEK to Public Service TV to Compensate for Media Concentration

IRIS 1998-2:1/33

Helene Hillerström

TV4 AB

The Finnish media group Aamulehti has bought a share of 23.3% in the private commercial Swedish TV channel, TV4. Aamulehti in it's turn is 20% owned by the Swedish media group Bonnier, who also owns a 16.7% share in TV4. The Swedish Governement is concerned about the new ownership situation of TV4 and fears that Bonnier will strengthen its position in the Swedish media sector. In order to increase diversity and to compensate a possible concentration of ownership by Bonnier in TV4, the Swedish Government proposes to provide an additional SEK 507 million to the public service channels SVT1 and SVT2. The proposal is expected to be approved by Parliament this March.

The Government has also appointed a new Parliamentary committee to work on a proposal to legislate against concentration of ownership in media. The committee's proposal shall be presented on 1 December at the latest.