TV 2 – State Media Monitor

Established in 1988, TV 2 stands as Denmark’s largest commercially funded television station. Over decades, it has evolved into a leading media group encompassing a variety of television, streaming, news, sports, and lifestyle channels.

Media assets

Television: TV 2, TV 2 Play, TV 2 News, TV 2 Charlie, TV 2 Sport, TV 2 Sport X, TV 2 Echo, TV 2 FRI

State Media Matrix Typology

Ownership and governance

TV 2 Denmark remains state-owned and commercially funded. Its governance structure comprises a nine-member Board of Directors—six appointed by the Danish Minister of Culture and three elected by TV 2 staff—which oversees the station’s overarching strategic direction.

Anne Engdal Stig Christensen officially assumed the role of CEO at TV 2 Denmark on 1 August 2019, succeeding Merete Eldrup. Christensen’s connection with TV 2 stretches back to 1994, across two separate periods of employment, and her tenure has been marked by steady leadership, steering the company through a demanding phase of digital transformation and the reshaping of its content strategy.

Source of funding and budget

TV 2’s revenue model remains rooted in advertising and subscription income. In 2021, the company had a turnover of DKK 3.6bn (US$ 547m), with 46% of the revenue coming from advertising sales and 51% from subscription sales. In 2022, TV2’s total turnover increased to DKK 3.8bn (US$ 519m), with DKK 2bn generated through subscriptions and DKK 1.7bn from advertising sales, according to a company financial report. In 2023, TV2 had a total income of DKK 3.8bn (US$ 551m).

The regional channels continue to receive partial funding from the old television licence fee, though as of 2024 this has been replaced by state tax collection.

In 2024, TV 2 Denmark recorded its highest-ever turnover of DKK 4.15 billion (approx. US$610 million), a significant increase from DKK 3.8 billion the previous year. Subscription revenues grew strongly—up nearly 15% to DKK 2.49 billion—making up around 60% of the total, while advertising income remained steady at DKK 1.59 billion (38%). Digital revenues accounted for 41% of all income, underscoring TV 2’s rapid pivot towards streaming and online platforms. The broadcaster closed the year with an EBIT of DKK 339 million and an operating margin of 8.2%, reflecting robust profitability despite escalating content costs.

Editorial independence

Denmark’s Constitution has strictly banned censorship since 1849, and the government exerts no influence on TV 2’s editorial operations. Content analyses conducted by the Media and Journalism Research Center from May 2021, March 2023, and May 2024 found no bias. TV 2 operates under the Danish Broadcast Law, which enshrines freedom of information and expression as essential to its programming.

TV 2 also maintains policies on ethics, whistleblower protection, diversity, and communication, though lacks formal independent oversight of its editorial decisions.

August 2025