Cable TV

The expansion of the cable network to homes accelerated in the early 1980s. In Sweden, upgrading of cable networks to carry programmes from satellites began in 1984. Today, over two million households are connected to cable networks. There are a number of cable television networks in Sweden. No licence from any authority is required to install and own cable networks. Those with the most connected paying households are Com hem, Canal Digital and Tele2Vision. These companies offer digital broadcasts.

Cable television companies
There is no licence required to transmit programmes on cable networks in Sweden. However, anyone sending original broadcasts via cable must register their broadcasting activity with the Swedish Radio and TV Authority.  In March 2008 there were 112 cable television companies (incl. local cable television companies) registered with the Authority. The cable television companies usually broadcast locally. Only one of these companies broadcasts nationwide. The remainder broadcast locally, often to a single municipality.

Local cable television companies
The Swedish Radio and TV Authority may appoint a legal entity as a local cable television company. This gives cost-free access to a specified amount of capacity on each cable network with more than one hundred connected households in a municipality. The local cable television company must allow different interests and opinions to express themselves in its activity. In their broadcasting activity, local cable television companies must strive for the broadest possible freedom of expression and information. The broadcasts of a local cable television company are normally limited to one municipality.

Currently (March 2008), 27 local cable television companies have been appointed by the Swedish Radio and TV Authority.