Content regulations for radio and television broadcasting

Regulatory framework: Broadcast licence
Form of broadcast: Public service, terrestrial TV

Information that is of significance must be accurate. Programmes may not be misleading; through the exclusion of important information, for example. If the broadcaster has carried out reasonable checks prior to broadcasting and the information later proves to be inaccurate, the programme does not violate the requirement for accuracy. However, significant mistakes must be corrected on air when justified.

Regulatory framework: Broadcast licence
Form of broadcast: Public service broadcasters (SVT, SR and UR)

To be impartial is to have a neutral approach to something without involving biased opinions. For a broadcaster, impartiality essentially means three things.

• If someone is clearly singled out and criticised, they must be given the opportunity to respond to the criticism.
• Controversial topics or events must not be dealt with in a one-sided manner.
• A representative of the broadcaster must not take sides on a controversial issue.

The requirement for impartiality does not prevent a feature from having a critical point of view or a particular angle. Public service broadcasters are obliged to comment on various events, encourage debate and scrutinise companies, authorities and organisations. The obligation of public service broadcasters to comment also gives room for a certain extent of r expression of views or opinions.

Criticism of a clearly identified party

If a clearly identified party is subjected to severe criticism or serious accusations, they should be given the opportunity to answer. This can be done by allowing the party to comment on the critique in the programme  or by accounting for their view. Refusal to participate in a programme does not prevent the programme from being broadcast..

Biased treatment of a topic or event

Controversial topics or events must not be treated in a one-sided way so that only one side’s version or views clearly dominate. However, it is permissible to portray a topic from a particular point of view, if this is clearly stated in the programme or programme presentation. One-sided presentation in one programme can be balanced by another programme.

Taking positions on controversial issues

Presenters, reporters and others who may be perceived as representatives of the broadcasting company may not express their own views or make statements in a programme. However, there is room for critical opinions in columns, articles and reviews, given that the nature of the programme has been made clear to the audience.

Regulatory framework: Broadcast licence
Form of broadcast: Public service

Incorrect facts must always be corrected. If it is justified that someone should be allowed to respond to an allegation, they must be given the opportunity to do so. Requests for correction or response must always be dealt with as quickly as possible by the broadcaster. The correction should be broadcast in or in connection with a programme of the same or similar nature to the programme in which the mistake was made.

There is no requirement for accuracy for cable transmissions. However, incorrect facts should be corrected when justified.

Regulatory framework: Broadcast licence
Form of broadcast: Public service, terrestrial TV

Anyone broadcasting television in the terrestrial network must take into account the impact of radio and television in terms of design, topics and time of broadcast. This provision applies to the assessment of programmes containing or dealing with matters such as violence, sex and drugs and requires broadcasters to exercise caution. Programmes that could be perceived as incitement to crime are not allowed. Including features that are manifestly offensive to either gender or to people of a particular ethnicity, nationality, religion or sexual orientation is also not permitted. The application of the provision is affected by factors such as whether the programme or feature is satirical or facetious.

Regulatory framework: Form of transmission
Form of transmission: Terrestrial TV

The privacy of the individual must be respected unless a public interest requires otherwise. This provision is intended to protect personal privacy and also applies to the publication of names in connection with crimes or suspected crimes. The Commission may only examine if a programme is in breach with the ruleif there is consent from the person concerned.

Regulatory framework: Radio and Television Act

Allowed to broadcast advertising

• Satellite TV
• On-demand TV
• Cable TV
• Teletext
• Web TV
• Commercial radio
• Web radio
• Local radio (but not local radio associations)

These forms of broadcasting may contain advertising and must then comply with the rules on ad placement, advertising time and ad signature, etc. The rules do not apply to advertising carried out by the broadcaster for its own programming activities, which is known as self-promotion. Advertising may not be directed at children under 12 years of age, and advertising alcohol and tobacco is also prohibited.

Not allowed to broadcast advertising

• Approved cable broadcasters
• Public service broadcasters
• Local radio associations

These forms of broadcasting must not contain advertising. The rules do not apply to advertising carried out by the broadcaster for its own programming activities, which is known as self-promotion.

Advertising time

Advertisements may be broadcast on television for a maximum of 20 per cent of the time between 06.00 and 18.00 and 20 per cent of the time between 18.00 and midnight.

For commercial radio, advertisements may be broadcast for a maximum of twelve minutes in any one hour between full hours. If the broadcasting time does not include one hour between full hours, advertisements may be broadcast for a maximum of 15 per cent of the broadcasting time.

On-demand TV has no rules on the amount of advertising that can be broadcast.

Placement of ads

Most types of programmes may be interrupted for advertising if this is done in such a way – taking into account natural breaks and the length and nature of the broadcast – that neither the integrity and value of the programme nor the rights of the rights holders are affected.

Advertising may be broadcast on local radio. However, local radio associations may not broadcast advertising (see below under Special rules for local radio associations).

The following also applies.

• The broadcasting of news programmes, cinema films and films made for television, excluding television series and documentaries, may be interrupted by advertising once every scheduled period of at least thirty minutes.
• Advertisements must not interrupt or appear immediately before or after a programme or part of a programme intended primarily for children under 12 years of age. Nor may advertisements interrupt religious services.
• Advertisements must not feature people who play a prominent role in programmes that are mainly about news and news commentary.
• Programmes on on-demand TV may be interrupted for advertising.

Ad signature

Before and after each advertisement, there must be a special signature that clearly distinguishes the advertisements from other broadcasts. This signature must consist of both sound and images. In the case of radio advertising breaks, the word “reklam” (advertising) should be included in the signature.

The Radio and Television Act also contains rules on

• Split screen advertising
• Virtual advertising in sports programmes
• Electronic company signs in sports and competition programmes

Regulatory framework: Radio and Television Act
Forms of transmission : Public service, terrestrial TV, cable TV, satellite TV, on-demand TV, web TV, teletext, commercial radio, local radio, web radio

Public service broadcasters

UR’s programmes must not be sponsored. SVT and SR have strict restrictions on sponsorship rights. They are allowed to sponsor Eurovision events such as the Eurovision Song Contest, and SVT can sponsor broadcasts of sports events. A statement indicating that the programme is sponsored must be provided in an appropriate way at the beginning and/or end of the programme. 

The statement must include the sponsor’s name, logo or other distinguishing feature. The sponsorship statement must not contain sales promotion elements.

Other forms of broadcasting

Sponsorship statements must be made at the beginning and/or end of the programme. If a clearly defined part of a programme is sponsored, the statement must be provided at the beginning or end of that part.

The statement must include the sponsor’s name, logo or other distinguishing feature. The sponsorship statement must not contain sales promotion elements.

Programmes that are mainly about news or contain news commentary must not be sponsored.

Programmes must not be sponsored by anyone who primarily manufactures or sells alcohol or tobacco. If pharmaceutical companies sponsor programmes, the sponsorship must not promote prescription drugs and medical treatment available on prescription.

Regulatory framework: Radio and Television Act
Form of broadcast: Public service, terrestrial TV, cable TV, satellite TV, web TV

The rules on product placement apply to television broadcasting. Product placement is allowed in films, TV series, sports programmes and light entertainment programmes, provided that the programme is not primarily aimed at children under 12 years of age.

Product placement must not unduly favour commercial interests. There are also restrictions on the types of products that can be placed. Information on the presence of product placement must be provided at the beginning and end of the programme and after interruptions for advertisements. This information must consist only of a neutral statement indicating that there is product placement, and on the product or service that has been placed.

Product placement is not allowed in public service broadcasts.

Regulatory framework: Radio and Television Act
Form of broadcast: Public service, terrestrial TV, cable TV, satellite TV, on-demand TV, web TV, teletext, commercial radio, local radio, web radio

No undue prominence may be given in programming to commercial interests. This provision means that programmes must not encourage the purchase or rental of goods or services or promote them inappropriately.

The presence of, or reference to, a product, service or trade mark in programming can be accepted if there is an editorial justification such as an information or entertainment interest.

The aim is to prevent surreptitious advertising. Broadcasters must ensure that editorial content is distinct from advertising.

Regulatory framework: Radio and Television Act
Form of broadcast: Public service, terrestrial TV, cable TV, satellite TV, web TV, teletext, commercial radio, local radio, web radio

Broadcasters must use a designation for their broadcasts that has been approved by the Swedish Press and Broadcasting Authority. This designation must be stated at least once every hour of transmission or, if this is not possible, between programmes.

Regulatory framework: Radio and Television Act
Form of broadcast: Public service, terrestrial TV, on-demand TV, web TV, teletext

According to what is known as the democracy provision in the Radio and Television Act, programme activities as a whole must be characterised by the basic ideas of the democratic form of government and the principle of equal value for all and the freedom and dignity of the individual.

Individual programmes are not reviewed directly against the democracy provision, because the provision applies to a broadcasting company’s broadcasts in general. This provision allows broadcasters to distance themselves from or respond to discriminatory or racist statements without conflicting with the requirement for impartiality. This provision also imposes an obligation to distance themselves from, or to respond to, anti-democratic statements. In some cases assessed by the Swedish Broadcasting Commission, the failure of broadcasters to do so has meant that features violated the rule on the special impact of radio.

Regulatory framework: Radio and Television Act
Form of broadcast: Public service, terrestrial TV, cable TV, satellite TV, on-demand TV, web TV, teletext

Programmes with detailed and realistic depictions of violence or pornographic images must carry a warning. Such programmes must not be broadcast or made available at such a time and in such a way as to present a significant risk of being viewed by children, unless justified by specific reasons.

Regulatory framework: Radio and Television Act
Form of broadcast: Local radio associations

Special rules for local radio associations

A local radio association is an association of several licence holders in a broadcast area for common local radio purposes. A local radio broadcast area usually covers a municipality. The programming of local radio associations must only include

• broadcasts from events of common interest to the licence holders
• limited information on municipal activities
• information on programmes, programme times and other information on local radio activities in the area
• certain test broadcasts of programmes

Local radio associations must not broadcast advertising or sponsored programmes.