Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) is a public service radio and television broadcaster. Founded in 1925, it is the oldest and largest broadcast media enterprise in Denmark. DR operates six television channels and eight radio channels.
Media assets
Television: DR1, DR2, DR3, DR K, DR Ramasjang, DR Ultra
Radio: DR P1, DR P2, DR P3, DR P4, DR P5, DR P6 Beat, DR P7, DR P8 Jazz, DR Langbølge
State Media Matrix Typology: Independent State-Funded and State-Managed (ISFM)
Ownership and governance
DR is an independent public institution. Its highest governing body is a board of directors comprising 11 members appointed for four years. Seven of the board’s members are appointed by state authorities—three by the Minister of Culture and six by Parliament. Additionally, two members of the board are elected by the DR staff. The board is responsible for hiring DR’s management, including the station’s CEO.
Source of funding and budget
Previously, DR was primarily funded by a media license fee paid by all households in Denmark with devices capable of distributing audiovisual content. However, starting in 2019, the license fee was gradually replaced by a state subsidy generated through a public media tax. The goal was to eliminate the license fee from DR’s budget by 2024, and this has been accomplished.
In the past, the Minister of Culture used to determine the fee amount periodically for a certain number of years. In 2021, the fee was DKK 619 (US$102.18) per year, down from DKK 2,500 (US$410) per year before. DR collected the fee revenue and distributed it according to the minister’s instructions. The revenue went to DR itself and the rest to the TV2 regional broadcast network.
In 2021, DR had an annual budget of DKK 3.8bn (US$ 575.3m), as stated in its annual report. The license fee revenue only made up around 22% of the total budget, with the majority of DR’s budget covered by state subsidy. Although DR generated some revenue from commercial activities, this accounted for a small portion of the broadcaster’s total budget.
In 2022, DR had a total budget of DKK 3.9bn (US$ 521.6m), with almost all of it coming from the state budget. In 2023, the broadcaster’s budget increased to DKK 4.13bn (US$ 600.9m). Some DKK 3.66bn was income from the special tax subsidy.
Editorial independence
In Denmark, any form of censorship has been strictly prohibited by the Constitution since 1849. There are no government-imposed rules on DR’s editorial coverage. For decades, DR has been widely admired for its objective news coverage and the quality of its programming.
The Broadcast Law in Denmark ensures that DR maintains its editorial independence, emphasizing freedom of information and expression as a top priority in the broadcaster’s program production.
DR has a Listeners’ and Viewers’ Editor whose mission is to assess whether DR’s content meets its standards. The editor, functioning like an Ombudsman, addresses user complaints and engages with the station’s management.
August 2024