Satellite TV

About 20% of Swedish households receive television programmes via satellite. Television transmissions via satellite are digital and are offered by two competing companies: Canal Digital and Viasat. 

There is no licence required to transmit satellite television. However, under certain conditions the satellite broadcaster (the company that compiles and is responsible for all or part of a programme service) must register with the Radio and TV Authority. In December 2008, there are 38 satellite broadcasters are registered with the Authority:

• AB Sportexpress
• Assyrien Institutet
• Babylon Media Föreningen
• Bahrosuryoyo mediaförening  
• Big Brother KB
• C More Entertainment AB
• Di TV AB
• Didar HB
• Edessa Media Produktion AB
• Europeiska-Sydamerikanska KIF.Rio de la Plata
• JAPA Multimedia TV Produktion
• Kristen TV i Sverige AB 
• Kurdiska språk, Kulturutveckling och informationsföreningen (KSKUIF) 
• Niji Entertainment Group/World Cash Systems
• Nordic Shopping Sverige Aktiebolag
• Nordiska Satellitaktiebolaget
• Stiftelsen Kurdisk Media
• Sveriges Television AB
• Thorsat Limited
• Three Angels Lifestyle Television, Insamlings-stiftelse
• TV 1000 AB
• TV 4 AB
• Viasat Pay Channels AB
• 4chira ekonomisk förening
• World Institute for Asian Studies

In addition to the channels that are registered with the Swedish Radio and TV Authority, a number of other channels broadcast via satellite, for example SVT and TV4. There are also a number of pan European satellite channels which have a high penetration in Sweden.