SVT1

SVT1 is Sweden's principal general-interest public-service television channel and the flagship network of Sveriges Television (SVT). It serves a national Swedish audience with a broad schedule combining news, current affairs, entertainment, drama, documentaries, films, culture, regional reporting, live sport and major national events. The channel is commonly known as Ettan, meaning “the first one,” and its present identity is the result of several reorganizations and renamings in the history of Swedish television. The channel's institutional lineage reaches back to the launch of Swedish television on 4 September 1956, when the service operated as Radiotjänst TV. It was renamed Sveriges Radio TV in 1957, reflecting its position within the Swedish broadcasting organization of the period. During the first years, television coverage expanded gradually across the country. The service was initially Sweden's only television channel and was often referred to simply as TV. A second network arrived in 1969, prompting the original service to become TV1. The change took effect on 30 November 1969, following the closure of the earlier single-channel arrangement. The channel moved into regular colour broadcasting in 1970. The two networks became part of the newly established Sveriges Television in 1979. In 1987, the first network was relaunched as Kanal 1 in an effort to differentiate the two services and encourage competition within the public broadcaster. Kanal 1 concentrated its in-house production in Stockholm and developed a substantial drama operation. Commercial competition, especially from TV4, contributed to another major repositioning in 1996, when the channel adopted the SVT1 name and once again incorporated programming produced in different parts of Sweden. A corporate and scheduling reform in 2001 established SVT1 as SVT's flagship network. The popular national news programme Rapport moved from SVT2 to SVT1, while Aktuellt moved in the opposite direction. The channel also became the principal home for prominent entertainment programmes such as Melodifestivalen, På spåret and Så ska det låta, as well as important national and international broadcasts including Nobel Prize ceremonies and Eurovision Song Contest coverage. Its schedule is designed to combine mass-audience programming with the public-service obligations of information, culture, education and regional representation. SVT1's role changed again in August 2008, when children's programming including the long-running 18:00 Bolibompa broadcast was transferred to Barnkanalen. Regional news was moved onto SVT1, strengthening the channel's role as a national service with local and regional opt-outs. Its weekday schedule generally begins with Morgonstudion, followed by repeats, films, series, magazine programmes, documentaries and live events. Evening programming typically includes regional and national news, entertainment, drama and factual programming. SVT operates 21 regional news services under the SVT Nyheter banner, with regional segments inserted into the main schedule. The channel has also followed the technical evolution of Swedish broadcasting. Selected SVT1 programmes were distributed in high definition through SVT HD from 2006. SVT HD was discontinued in September 2010 as SVT1 became the full-time HD simulcast in the relevant distribution systems, with terrestrial HD transmissions expanding from November 2010. SVT1 completed its transition to widescreen presentation in 2007 and became a 24-hour channel in September 2009, replacing the former overnight simulcast arrangement with SVT24 with repeats and other continuous scheduling. Today, SVT1 remains a central component of Sweden's publicly funded broadcasting system. It is not a separately incorporated company or a commercial listed asset; rather, it is a channel brand operated by Sveriges Television. Its competitive position is based on universal availability, editorial independence, trusted news, distinctiv…

Swedish television officially began on 4 September 1956 as Radiotjänst TV. The service was renamed Sveriges Radio TV in 1957 and initially operated as the country's sole television service. National availability developed progressively, and viewers in southern Sweden also received Swedish-language programming from Denmark for a period before the connection to Stockholm was completed in 1958. The arrival of a second Swedish television network in 1969 led to the original service being renamed TV1. The new identity began on 30 November 1969, after the earlier single-channel system was closed. TV1 appointed Håkan Unsgaard as its director, introduced a revised news structure and moved into full-time colour broadcasting in 1970. The two networks remained within the Sveriges Radio organization until 1 July 1979, when both were placed under Sveriges Television. A further competitive reorganization took effect in 1987. TV1 became Kanal 1, and the channel's home-produced programming was concentrated in Stockholm, including national news and current affairs. The new arrangement created a larger production organization and supported the development of Kanal 1 Drama, which became a major Nordic drama-production unit. The channel's visual identity also changed, with new animated presentation and a stronger distinction from the second network. Commercial television, particularly TV4, increased competitive pressure during the 1990s. In January 1996, Kanal 1 was relaunched as SVT1. The new name emphasized the common SVT corporate identity and was accompanied by a return to programming produced from across Sweden. A further corporate reform in 2001 made SVT1 the broadcaster's flagship network. Rapport, SVT's prominent national news programme, moved to the first channel, while Aktuellt moved to SVT2. SVT1 consequently combined the public broadcaster's strongest news presence with major entertainment and event programming. The channel's presentation and branding evolved repeatedly. A 2001 SVT corporate identity introduced the starflower logo and a warmer colour treatment for SVT1. Another major on-air relaunch arrived on 25 August 2008, using a violet, television-screen-centred visual system. In-vision continuity was discontinued in March 2012, after which continuity announcements were delivered off camera. SVT's presentation had already moved to widescreen in 2007. Programming policy changed significantly in 2008. The long-running 18:00 Bolibompa slot and other children's output moved from SVT1 to Barnkanalen, while regional news transferred to SVT1. This gave the flagship channel a more pronounced role in regional public-service reporting, with local opt-outs during Morgonstudion, an early-evening regional bulletin and a later update. The channel also became a 24-hour service in September 2009 when the overnight simulcast with SVT24 was replaced by SVT1 repeats. SVT began distributing selected programming in high definition through SVT HD in 2006. In September 2010, SVT HD was discontinued and replaced with a full-time SVT1 HD simulcast, followed by expanded terrestrial HD transmission. The technical transition complemented the channel's continuing role as the principal home of national news, entertainment, drama, documentaries, regional reporting and major public events. SVT1 is currently operated by Sveriges Television as a channel brand rather than as an independent company. Its public-service identity is expressed through universal national availability, Swedish-language programming, editorial news coverage, cultural and factual content, regional representation and broadcasts of events such as the Nobel Prize ceremonies and Eurovision Song Contest. Its linear schedule is complemented by SVT's digital distribution, while the SVT1 name continues to signify the broadcaster's main general-interest service.

• 2010

  SVT1 becomes the full-time HD simulcast

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  SVT HD is replaced by a full-time high-definition simulcast of SVT1, with terrestrial HD expansion later that year.

• 2009

  SVT1 begins 24-hour broadcasting

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  The channel replaces the former overnight SVT24 simulcast with continuous SVT1 transmission.

• 2008

  Regional news moves to SVT1

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  Regional news becomes part of SVT1's regular schedule, while children's programming is transferred to Barnkanalen.

• 2007

  SVT presentation moves to widescreen

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  The channel's on-air presentation completes its transition to widescreen formatting.

• 2001

  SVT1 becomes the flagship channel

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  A corporate revamp assigns SVT1 the broadcaster's main news and general-interest role.

• 1996

  Kanal 1 becomes SVT1

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  The network receives its current name and resumes a more nationally distributed production profile.

• 1987

  TV1 is relaunched as Kanal 1

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  The first network adopts a new name and concentrates its original production in Stockholm.

• 1979

  The networks enter Sveriges Television

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  TV1 and TV2 are placed under Sveriges Television as part of the restructuring of Swedish public broadcasting.

• 1970

  Full-time colour broadcasting begins

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  TV1 moves to regular full-time colour transmission.

• 1969

  TV1 is created

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  The original network is renamed TV1 following the launch of a second Swedish television channel.

• 1957

  The service becomes Sveriges Radio TV

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  The television service adopts the name of its parent broadcasting organization.

• 1956

  Swedish television launches

  [1]SVT1en.wikipedia.org

  Radiotjänst TV begins regular Swedish television broadcasting, establishing the lineage of the service that later becomes SVT1.

A national public-service television flagship combining trusted journalism, Swedish-produced entertainment and drama, regional representation, cultural programming and coverage of events of broad public importance.

• Television channel

  SVT1 linear channel

  The core SVT1 service is a national general-interest television schedule. It combines national and regional news, current affairs, entertainment, drama, documentaries, films, culture, magazine programmes, live sport and event broadcasts. The channel is designed to serve the broad Swedish public rather than a narrowly defined genre audience, and it remains the principal linear outlet for many of SVT's highest-profile programmes.

• High-definition television service · 2010

  SVT1 HD

  SVT1 HD is the high-definition simulcast of the main channel. It replaced the separate SVT HD service in 2010 and enabled SVT's flagship schedule to be distributed in HD through relevant terrestrial and other delivery platforms.

• Regional news · 2008

  SVT Nyheter regional programming

  SVT1 carries regional news opt-outs produced through SVT's regional news organization. The service includes regional segments in Morgonstudion, an early-evening bulletin and a later update, supplemented by material from local newsrooms across Sweden.

• 2010

  Replace SVT HD with an SVT1 HD simulcastOther

  Background

  SVT was expanding high-definition distribution in the digital terrestrial network.

  Action taken

  The separate SVT HD service was discontinued and replaced by a full-time HD simulcast of SVT1.

  Aftermath

  The flagship channel became the main high-definition outlet for SVT's general-interest programming.

  Source

• 2008

  Restructure the schedule around regional newsStrategy

  Background

  SVT revised the relationship between its main networks and specialist services, including the children's channel Barnkanalen.

  Action taken

  Regional news was moved to SVT1, while Bolibompa and additional children's programmes were transferred from SVT1 to Barnkanalen.

  Aftermath

  SVT1 gained a stronger regional-public-service role, although the programming changes received criticism.

  Source

• 2001

  Reposition SVT1 as the flagship networkStrategy

  Background

  A corporate reorganization sought to make the first channel SVT's most watched and broadly accessible service.

  Action taken

  Rapport moved to SVT1, Aktuellt moved to SVT2, and the first channel received a stronger concentration of major entertainment and national-event programming.

  Aftermath

  SVT1 became the principal public-service destination for mass-audience news, entertainment and national broadcasts.

  Source

• 1996

  Adopt the SVT1 brandGeneration change

  Background

  Growing competition from commercial broadcasters encouraged Sveriges Television to refresh the positioning of its first network.

  Action taken

  Kanal 1 was relaunched as SVT1 and programming from across Sweden was brought back into the channel's production profile.

  Aftermath

  SVT1 became the enduring name of the broadcaster's principal general-interest channel.

  Source

• 1987

  Relaunch the first network as Kanal 1Strategy

  Background

  SVT sought to differentiate its two networks and organize production more distinctly between them.

  Action taken

  TV1 became Kanal 1, with homegrown programming concentrated in Stockholm and a dedicated drama operation developed within the channel.

  Aftermath

  The channel developed a strong Stockholm production identity before returning to a broader national profile under the SVT1 name.

  Source

• 1969

  Create TV1 after the second network launchesStrategy

  Background

  The introduction of a second Swedish television network required the original single-channel service to receive a distinct identity and schedule.

  Action taken

  The original service was renamed TV1 and began operating within a two-network public television structure.

  Aftermath

  The TV1 identity remained in use until the network was renamed Kanal 1 in 1987.

  Source

1. 1SVT1en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sveriges Televisionsvt.se