Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa
Greenland's national public broadcasting organization, providing nationwide radio and television services primarily in Kalaallisut.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa, commonly known as KNR, is Greenland's national public broadcasting organization and one of the territory's central cultural and informational institutions. Its name means approximately “Greenland's Radio,” while the organization is also rendered in English as the Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation. Based in Nuuk, KNR operates television and radio services for audiences across Greenland, with a public-service remit centered on news, current affairs, local programming, cultural content, and live coverage of events. KNR's principal language is Kalaallisut, the Greenlandic language, reflecting the broadcaster's role in supporting Greenlandic-language media and public communication. Some programming is also provided in Danish. Its radio service is distributed nationwide through FM and AM transmission and is also available online. In Nuuk, the radio operation additionally relays DR P1 through FM. KNR television operates two channels. KNR1 is the principal service and carries the majority of the broadcaster's regular programming, while KNR2 is used primarily for live coverage of selected events. Both channels are distributed through digital terrestrial television and digital cable television and are also streamed online through YouTube. The organization is an independent state-owned corporation governed by a five-person board. Its financing comes mainly from direct public funding from the Greenland government, supplemented by a limited amount of on-air advertising. KNR's output can draw on material and cooperation from Naalakkersuisut, Greenlandic associations, private local broadcasters, and broadcasters abroad, particularly Denmark's DR. KNR is also an associate member of Nordvision, a cooperative network linking public broadcasters in the Nordic countries. A major operational development occurred in 2012–13, when KNR's radio and television functions moved into a new building in Nuuk. The relocation consolidated the organization's activities and followed earlier investment in production infrastructure. In 2006, KNR TV installed a digital SD-SDI production and editing facility capable of supporting locally produced talk shows, news programming, and remote broadcasts. This helped strengthen its ability to originate Greenlandic content rather than relying primarily on imported programming. KNR's television strategy also changed in the early 2010s. Before January 2013, KNR1 carried programming from Danish networks including DR and TV 2. After several DR channels became freely available in Greenland, KNR shifted its emphasis toward original Greenlandic programming. On 21 June 2020, KNR1 and KNR2 moved to 720p high-definition transmission. KNR continues to face the structural challenges of serving a geographically vast territory with a relatively small population and a limited labor market. In April 2022, approximately one-fifth of its positions were reported to be vacant, largely in the context of low salaries. The staffing shortage led to reductions in internet and radio reporting. Despite these constraints, KNR remains a core national platform for Greenlandic-language broadcasting, public information, and coverage of political, social, and cultural life throughout Greenland.
History
Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa, known as KNR, is Greenland's national public broadcaster. The organization is based in Nuuk and serves the territory through radio, television, and online distribution. Its institutional role is closely connected to Greenland's linguistic and cultural environment: most of its programming is in Kalaallisut, while Danish is also used for some content. Through this combination of national broadcasting and Greenlandic-language production, KNR functions as a major channel for public information and cultural expression across Greenland. KNR is organized as an independent state-owned corporation overseen by a five-person board. Its primary financial support comes from direct government funding, with limited supplementary revenue from on-air advertising. The broadcaster's content is assembled from several sources, including material from Naalakkersuisut, Greenlandic associations, collaborations with private local broadcasters, and international partners. Danish public broadcaster DR is an especially significant external source. KNR's associate membership in Nordvision places it within a broader Nordic public-broadcasting cooperation network. The television operation consists of KNR1 and KNR2. KNR1 is the main channel and provides regular programming, much of it in Kalaallisut. KNR2 is primarily activated for live broadcasts of particular events. Both channels are available through digital terrestrial television using DVB-T, digital cable television using DVB-C, and online streaming through YouTube. KNR's radio service is transmitted nationwide through FM and AM and is also available online. In Nuuk, KNR provides a direct FM relay of DR P1. KNR has progressively developed its own technical and production capabilities. In 2006, KNR TV installed a complete digital SD-SDI production and editing facility, together with infrastructure for locally produced talk shows, news, and remote broadcasts. This investment improved the organization's ability to originate programming within Greenland. Earlier television schedules included content from Danish networks DR and TV 2. That arrangement became less central after several DR channels were made freely available in Greenland; by January 2013, KNR had chosen to focus more strongly on original Greenlandic programming. The organization consolidated its physical operations in Nuuk during 2012–13, when all radio and television functions moved to a new building. The move was an important logistical milestone for a broadcaster operating across a large and sparsely populated territory. KNR later completed a major television distribution upgrade when KNR1 and KNR2 switched to 720p HD on 21 June 2020. KNR's development has also been constrained by workforce and funding pressures. In April 2022, reporting indicated that roughly one-fifth of the organization's positions were vacant because salaries were low. The resulting capacity problems required reductions in internet and radio reporting. Even with these constraints, KNR remains Greenland's principal national broadcasting platform, combining public-service news and information with locally produced programming, live coverage, and services intended to reach communities throughout the territory.
- 2022
Staff vacancies affect reporting output
[1]Approximately one-fifth of KNR positions were vacant in April 2022, contributing to reduced internet and radio reporting.
- 2020
KNR1 and KNR2 adopt 720p HD
[1]Both television channels switched to 720p high-definition resolution on 21 June 2020.
- 2013
Greater focus on original Greenlandic programming
[1]Following expanded free-to-air availability of DR channels in Greenland, KNR shifted KNR1 toward original Greenlandic programming rather than relying as heavily on Danish network content.
- 2012
Relocation to a new Nuuk facility begins
[1]KNR began moving its radio and television operations into a new building in Nuuk during the 2012–13 period.
- 2006
Digital television production facility installed
[1]KNR TV installed a digital SD-SDI production and editing facility capable of supporting local talk shows, news, and remote broadcasts.
Products and positioning
Greenland's publicly funded national broadcaster, emphasizing Greenlandic-language programming, nationwide access, local news, and public-service media.
Radio broadcasting
KNR Radio
KNR's nationwide radio service is distributed through FM and AM and is also available online. Programming is primarily in Kalaallisut, with some Danish-language content. In Nuuk, the service also carries a direct FM relay of DR P1. The radio operation provides a principal channel for national news, public information, cultural programming, and live coverage across Greenland.
Television broadcasting
KNR1
KNR1 is KNR's primary television channel. It is distributed nationwide through DVB-T digital terrestrial television and DVB-C digital cable television and is also streamed online through YouTube. The channel carries the broadcaster's main schedule, with most programming in Kalaallisut. Since the early 2010s, KNR1 has emphasized original Greenlandic programming, including local news, talk shows, and other public-service content.
Television broadcasting
KNR2
KNR2 is KNR's secondary television channel. Rather than operating as a full continuous schedule, it is used primarily for live broadcasts of specific events. Like KNR1, it is available through digital terrestrial and digital cable distribution and is streamed online. KNR2 switched to 720p HD resolution together with KNR1 in June 2020.
Digital media
KNR online services
KNR extends its broadcasting services online through streaming and internet reporting. KNR1 and KNR2 are streamed through YouTube, while the radio service is available online. Staffing shortages reported in 2022 reduced the organization's internet and radio reporting capacity, but online distribution remains an important way to reach audiences across Greenland.
Brand decisions
2020
Upgrade KNR television to 720p HDGeneration changeBackground
KNR operated two nationwide television channels and had previously developed digital production infrastructure, including an SD-SDI facility installed in 2006.
Action taken
KNR1 and KNR2 switched to 720p high-definition resolution on 21 June 2020.
Aftermath
The upgrade improved the technical quality of KNR's television distribution while preserving the two-channel service structure.
2013
Prioritize original Greenlandic programmingStrategyBackground
KNR1 had previously carried programming from Danish television networks including DR and TV 2. After several DR channels became freely available in Greenland, the strategic value of continuing to rely on that imported programming declined.
Action taken
KNR chose to place greater emphasis on original Greenlandic programming, strengthening the channel's local public-service and language role.
Aftermath
KNR1 became more focused on locally originated content, while external cooperation and supplied programming remained part of the broadcaster's wider content mix.
Recent events
- 2022
KNR reports staffing shortages and reduced reporting capacity[1]
Other
In April 2022, approximately one-fifth of KNR positions were reported to be vacant. Low salaries contributed to the staffing problem, which resulted in reductions to internet and radio reporting.
- 2020
KNR television services switch to 720p HD[1]
Product generation
KNR1 and KNR2 changed to 720p high-definition transmission on 21 June 2020.
- 2013
KNR concentrates KNR1 on original Greenlandic programming[1]
Other
After several DR channels became freely available in Greenland, KNR reduced its reliance on programming from DR and TV 2 and placed greater emphasis on original Greenlandic content.
- 2013
KNR completes relocation of radio and television operations[1]
Other
During 2012–13, KNR moved its radio and television operations into a new building in Nuuk.
Sources1 sources
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