NRK Super

NRK Super is the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's children’s media brand, created to provide a broad public-service offer for children in Norway. Its principal audience is children between roughly two and twelve years old, with programming divided between preschool viewers, school-age children, and older children or tweens. The brand combines a television channel, a 24-hour DAB and internet radio service, a dedicated website, mobile and connected-device applications, and programming distributed through NRK TV and other NRK digital services. The television service launched on 1 December 2007. Its creation followed additional public funding for NRK and was intended to help the broadcaster meet its obligations to children with content rooted in Norwegian language, culture, and everyday life. The launch also represented NRK’s response to the growing presence of commercial children’s networks in Norway, including Disney Channel, Jetix, and Cartoon Network. NRK Super was designed not simply as a schedule of imported cartoons, but as a unified media environment combining entertainment, information, learning, participation, and Norwegian children’s programming. The related radio service began on 16 October 2007 under the name NRK Barn. It later became known as Radio Super and broadcasts on DAB and online. Unlike the television service, which operates within scheduled blocks and shares transmission arrangements with NRK3, the radio service is available around the clock. NRK Super’s television channel is distributed through Norway’s digital terrestrial network and through cable and satellite providers. Its broadcast identity has traditionally occupied daytime and early-evening hours, with NRK3 using the same channel capacity at other times, although the detailed schedule and simulcast arrangements have changed over the years. NRK Super’s programming includes preschool series, animation, live-action drama, factual content, music, games, and news. Fantorangen is associated with preschool-oriented programming, while Barne-TV is one of the best-known traditions carried into the brand from NRK’s wider children’s television history. Supernytt, introduced in 2010, provides news presented specifically for children. The schedule also includes Norwegian and Nordic productions alongside dubbed international programs. A daily slot for NRK Sápmi content provides programming in Northern Sámi and Southern Sámi, reflecting NRK’s public-service and linguistic responsibilities. Digital distribution is central to the brand. The NRK Super website, launched in 2007, developed from a children’s portal into a service offering video, games, online drama, and other interactive material. A dedicated mobile and tablet application was introduced during the 2012 school holidays, enabling live and on-demand viewing. Much of the brand’s material is also available through NRK TV, allowing audiences to move between broadcast television, streaming, radio, and online services. The FlippKlipp YouTube channel extended NRK Super’s reach into creator-led and platform-native content, particularly for older children. NRK Super’s stated purpose has emphasized a safe and constructive media childhood, cultural diversity, children’s identity and self-esteem, and stories grounded in Norwegian language and culture. The service has also positioned itself as a partner to schools and society and has articulated a view of children as people whose perspectives deserve respect. By the middle of the 2010s, NRK Super had become a major children’s media destination in Norway, while usage increasingly shifted from linear television toward websites, applications, and streaming. The brand remains active as an integrated NRK service rather than as a separately incorporated company.

NRK Super emerged from NRK’s long-standing children’s programming tradition and from the public broadcaster’s need to create a more coherent service for children in a media environment increasingly shaped by commercial specialist channels. During the 2000s, children in Norway gained access to international networks such as Disney Channel, Jetix, and Cartoon Network. NRK responded by developing a dedicated children’s brand intended to combine Norwegian public-service values with the convenience and recognizability of a specialized channel. The radio component came first in 2007. NRK launched NRK Barn on 16 October, distributing it through DAB, the internet, and radio sections of television platforms. It later adopted the Radio Super name and evolved into a 24-hour service. The television channel followed on 1 December 2007 after NRK received funding associated with the launch. The service was conceived for children approximately two to twelve years old and was guided by the idea that children should be important participants in a safe, culturally grounded media environment. At launch, some children’s programs were shown both on NRK1 and NRK Super. The expansion of Norway’s digital terrestrial network made the NRK Super and NRK3 transmission capacity broadly available, and from 2010 most children’s programs moved to NRK Super rather than continuing on NRK1. This transition also affected Barne-TV, a major NRK children’s institution that had been broadcast on NRK1 since 1960. From 2010, the program was associated primarily with NRK Super. The brand’s output has always been varied. Preschool content has included Fantorangen-related programming and other programs designed for early viewers. Older children have been served by Norwegian and Nordic live-action series, animation, factual programs, music, games, and international programs generally dubbed into Norwegian. NRK Super also carries Sámi-language material through an NRK Sápmi slot, supporting the broadcaster’s obligations to Norway’s linguistic and cultural communities. In 2010, the launch of Supernytt added a dedicated children’s news format and strengthened the channel’s informational role. NRK Super expanded beyond linear broadcasting quickly. Its website appeared in 2007 as a portal with areas for younger and older children and later offered games, online television, and original online drama. A dedicated app for mobile devices and tablets arrived around the 2012 school holidays. The app supported both live television and catch-up viewing, while the service’s programming was increasingly incorporated into NRK TV and later made available on connected televisions and set-top boxes. By 2015, NRK reported substantial weekly use of its online video offer, and digital platforms represented a significant portion of the audience’s interaction with NRK Super content. The brand also experimented with platform-specific youth content through FlippKlipp, a YouTube channel associated at different times with presenters including Preben Fjell, Dennis Vareide, Jonas Lihaug Fredriksen, Henrik Hildre, Victor Sotberg, Herman Dahl, Robin Hofset, and Christopher Robin Omdahl. These creator-led formats helped NRK Super reach older children and young audiences in an environment outside conventional broadcast television. NRK Super’s operating model is closely connected to NRK3. The two services share transmission capacity, with NRK Super generally occupying daytime and early-evening periods and NRK3 broadcasting at other times. The precise hours have changed, including later adjustments to sign-on times and overnight presentation. Radio audio and sign-off material have also been used during periods when the television service is not carrying its regular schedule. In the mid-2010s, NRK Super described its role as helping children in Norway enjoy a safe and positive media childhood while strengthening identity, self-esteem, cultural understanding, and connection to Norwegian language and culture. It also presented itself as working alongside schools and wider society. Today, NRK Super is best understood as an integrated public-service children’s media brand rather than merely a television station: its television channel, radio service, website, apps, streaming catalogue, news output, games, and platform-native video all form parts of the same NRK offer.

• 2023

  Television sign-on time moves earlier

  [1]NRK Superen.wikipedia.org

  The regular television schedule begins at 06:30 instead of 07:00.

• 2015

  Digital use becomes a major part of audience consumption

  [1]NRK Superen.wikipedia.org

  NRK reports that web, online-video, and app usage account for a substantial share of interaction with NRK Super content.

• 2014

  Public-service vision formalized

  [1]NRK Superen.wikipedia.org

  NRK Super sets out a vision focused on children’s safety, diversity, identity, self-esteem, and Norwegian cultural grounding.

• 2012

  Dedicated mobile application introduced

  [1]NRK Superen.wikipedia.org

  The NRK Super app enables live and on-demand viewing on mobile phones and tablets.

• 2010

  Children’s programming consolidates on NRK Super

  [1]NRK Superen.wikipedia.org

  Following the expansion of digital terrestrial distribution, most children’s programming moves from NRK1 to NRK Super, including the continuing Barne-TV tradition.

• 2010

  Supernytt begins

  [1]NRK Superen.wikipedia.org

  NRK Super launches a dedicated news program for children.

• 2007

  NRK Barn radio service launches

  [1]NRK Superen.wikipedia.org

  NRK begins its dedicated children’s radio service on 16 October under the NRK Barn name; it later becomes Radio Super.

• 2007

  NRK Super television channel launches

  [1]NRK Superen.wikipedia.org

  The television channel begins broadcasting on 1 December as NRK’s dedicated public-service channel for children.

A Norwegian public-service children's media universe combining trusted local content, age-appropriate entertainment, information, culture, and digital participation for children approximately 2–12 years old.

• Children's television · 2007

  NRK Super television channel

  The core linear television service broadcasts preschool, school-age, and tween programming through Norway’s digital terrestrial network and through cable and satellite providers. Its schedule combines Norwegian and Nordic productions with dubbed international animation and live-action series. NRK Super shares transmission arrangements with NRK3, generally occupying daytime and early-evening hours.

• Children's radio · 2007

  Radio Super

  Originally launched as NRK Barn, Radio Super is NRK’s children’s radio service. It is distributed on DAB, online radio, and selected television-provider radio platforms. The service operates continuously and includes scheduled children’s programming such as Skolefri.

• Children's digital media · 2007

  NRK Super website

  The website functions as an online portal for children, combining streaming video, games, online drama, and other age-oriented material. It was launched alongside the broader NRK Super brand and has been redesigned several times as the service’s digital role expanded.

• Streaming application · 2012

  NRK Super app

  The dedicated app for mobile devices and tablets provides live and on-demand access to NRK Super programming. Related versions have also been made available on smart televisions and set-top boxes, while the catalogue is additionally integrated into the wider NRK TV environment.

• Children's news · 2010

  Supernytt

  Supernytt is NRK Super’s news format for children. It presents current affairs in language and visual treatment intended for younger viewers and forms an important informational component of the public-service children’s offer.

• Online video channel

  FlippKlipp

  FlippKlipp is a YouTube-focused extension of NRK Super for older children and young audiences. Its presenter line-up has changed over time, and its creator-oriented format illustrates the brand’s move into platform-native entertainment beyond scheduled television.

• 2014

  Emphasize safety, diversity, and Norwegian cultural identityStrategy

  Background

  NRK Super sought to distinguish its public-service offer from purely commercial children’s entertainment and to reflect the diversity of children living in Norway.

  Action taken

  The service formalized a vision centered on a safe media childhood, cultural diversity, identity, self-esteem, Norwegian language and culture, and cooperation with schools and society.

  Aftermath

  These principles continued to frame the brand’s editorial positioning across television, radio, streaming, and digital services.

  Source

• 2012

  Extend the service to mobile and tablet viewingProduct launch

  Background

  Children’s media consumption was increasingly moving beyond scheduled television and toward internet-connected devices.

  Action taken

  NRK introduced a dedicated NRK Super application supporting live and catch-up viewing.

  Aftermath

  The app became part of a wider multi-platform distribution strategy later complemented by smart-TV access and NRK TV integration.

  Source

• 2010

  Consolidate children’s programming on NRK SuperStrategy

  Background

  Digital terrestrial distribution made the NRK Super and NRK3 capacity broadly available, reducing the need to use NRK1 as the principal home for children’s programming.

  Action taken

  NRK moved most children’s programs from NRK1 to NRK Super, while retaining the brand’s established formats and public-service role.

  Aftermath

  Barne-TV and other children’s programming became identified primarily with NRK Super rather than NRK1.

  Source

• 2007

  Create a dedicated public-service children’s media brandProduct launch

  Background

  NRK faced stronger competition from specialized commercial children’s channels while seeking to fulfill its public-service responsibilities toward children aged approximately 2–12.

  Action taken

  NRK launched the NRK Super television service and developed a related radio, web, and digital-content offer rooted in Norwegian language and culture.

  Aftermath

  The initiative became NRK’s principal children’s media ecosystem and later expanded across streaming, apps, online video, and radio.

  Estimated annual operating cost at launch. 50–60 million Norwegian kroner estimated for the channel (2007)

  Source

1. 1NRK Superen.wikipedia.org
2. 2NRK Super official websitenrksuper.no