The Norwegian Media Authority
External organization | subordinate agency | Ministry of Culture and Equality
The Norwegian Media Authority is a governmental supervisory and administrative body that implements legislation and the decisions of the Storting, the Government and the Ministry of Culture and Equality. The Norwegian Media Authority shall promote freedom of expression, due process and a vibrant democracy.
The authority's responsibilities include raising awareness on children's use of digital media and computer games, rules for radio and television broadcasts and age limits for cinema films and the registration of videograms. In addition, the authority handles subsidy schemes and supervises market and ownership issues relating to the daily press and broadcasting.
An example is the fact that the Norwegian Media Authority acts to prevent acquisition of ownership shares that would potentially result in excessive concentration of media at the national or regional level.
The Norwegian Media Authority determines age limits for films shown commercially in accordance with the Film and Videograms Act, and keeps records of videograms to be sold commercially. The Norwegian Media Authority is also an advisory body on issues related to the internet and computer games.
The Norwegian Media Authority is the supervisory authority for broadcasting (terms for public service broadcasting, advertising and sponsorship, and safeguarding children and young people) and is the licensing and registration authority for local and other types of broadcasting. Moreover, the Norwegian Media Authority is the appellate body for matters relating to television licenses.
The Norwegian Media Authority administers a number of different subsidy schemes, such as press subsidies to newspapers and special publications, funding for user-oriented media research and post- and continuing education and local broadcasting grants.