Sveriges Radio
Sveriges Radio is Sweden’s public radio broadcast company, with 26 local channels and the Nordic region’s largest network of foreign correspondents.
Media assets
Radio: National- P1, P2, P3, P4; Local- P4 Blekinge, P4 Dalarna, P4 Gotland, P4 Gävleborg, P4 Göteborg, P4 Halland, P4 Jämtland, P4 Jönköping, P4 Kalmar, P4 Kristianstad, P4 Kronoberg, P4 Malmöhus, P4 Norrbotten, P4 Sjuhärad, P4 Skaraborg, P4 Stockholm, P4 Sörmland, P4 Uppland, P4 Värmland, P4 Väst, P4 Västerbotten, P4 Västernorrland, P4 Västmanland, P4 Örebro, P4 Östergötland
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
SR is incorporated as a public limited company owned by an independent foundation—the same shared by SVT (television) and UR (educational broadcasting). This foundation, created specifically to insulate public media from political interference, appoints the board for each outlet. Members of this board (13) are nominated via political party proposals but not in proportion to government power, and—crucially—cannot be overridden by the sitting government. This architecture ensures a robust arm’s‑length relationship and solid editorial autonomy.
As of mid‑2025, Cilla Benkö remains Director‑General and CEO of Sveriges Radio, a position she has held since 2012. Her long and esteemed tenure reflects decades of journalistic and strategic leadership.
Source of funding and budget
Since 2019, SR (and SVT) have been funded through a compulsory public‑service fee tied to income and collected via taxation, marking a clear departure from the old licence‑fee model.
In 2022, Sveriges Radio had a total budget of SEK 3.2bn (US$ 300m), most of it coming from the public service fee paid by all of the country’s citizens, as reported by the station. In 2023, Sveriges Radio had a budget of SEK 3.20bn (US$ 294m).
Rising costs—stemming from inflation, salary hikes, increased rents, security needs, and civil preparedness obligations—have placed significant strain on SR’s finances. In 2023, CEO Cilla Benkö warned SR would need to cut SEK 200–250 million annually (including program operations) to maintain a balanced budget.
The government and Sverigedemokraterna, Sverigedemokraterna (a right-wing populist party) unveiled a new public–service funding proposal consisting of the following: +3 % increase in 2026, +2 % annually during 2027–2030, and +1 % annually from 2031–2033.
SR’s leadership cautions that this would leave a SEK 3.4 bn shortfall over eight years—forcing the broadcaster to cut 300–400 positions, potentially gutting Ekot (news), P3, Melodikrysset, and four local P4 stations, and even jeopardizing their civil-defense role. Benkö described the consequences as tantamount to the gradual dismantling of Sveriges Radio.
Sverigedemokraterna has defended the budget as “reasonable,” arguing efficiencies could offset the lower increases, while others (e.g., Miljöpartiet, the Green Party) have warned of severe repercussions for SR’s mandate and capacities.
Editorial independence
SR operates under a government-issued broadcasting permit for 2020–2025, which serves as its charter—stipulating operations in the public interest, with independence, integrity, and freedom from economic or political meddling at its core.
There’s no documented government interference in editorial decisions. SR retains a reputational stronghold for integrity and open, high-quality programming.
August 2025