IMPULSE Anne Kaun and Michele Madeleine Biendara What is the state of public service media in Sweden? 1. Introduction and contextualisation The role of public service media in the media system Public service media(PSM) in Sweden is provided by three companies: Sveriges Radio(SR; English: Swedish Radio), Sveriges Television(SVT; English: Swedish Television) and Sveriges Utbildningsradio(UR; English: Educational Broad­casting). They are all owned by a separate trust(‘Förvalt­ningsstiftelsen för Sveriges Radio AB, Sveriges Television AB och Sveriges Utbildningsradio AB’). 1 The broadcasting license issued by the Swedish government describes the funding conditions for the three companies and provides a framework for their activities and obligations. The current broadcasting license is valid from 2020 to 2025. 2 The broadcasting license for 2026 to 2033 has already been ap ­proved and came into effect in autumn 2025. The commer ­cial providers are considered to be market-driven comple­ments to public service media, offering a broad range of content on a profit-making basis. Swedish public service media companies are re­quired to ensure that their programming promotes diversity and helps to strengthen media production in Sweden. 3 They play a key role in sustaining Swedish language and culture, as well as minority languages and cultures in Swe­den. Since 2010, when the National Minorities and Minori ­ties Languages Act was passed, the languages of Sweden’s five official minority groups are especially promoted and protected. No official figures are available on this, however, as there is no census data on the size of the five minority groups, which include Jews(and Yiddish), Roma(Romani Chib), Sami(the Sami language), Swedish Finns(Finnish), as well as Tornedalians and Meänkieli. It is estimated that the Jewish population is around 20,000–25,000, the Roma 50,000–100,000 and the Sami population 20,000–35,000. Swedish Finns are the largest national minority in Sweden, with a population of somewhere between 400,000 and 700,000 people, and the Tornedalians are estimated to 1  Förvaltningsstiftelsen.(n.d.). Available at: https://www.forvaltningsstiftelsen.se/(accessed 10 October 2025). 2  Vad är public service?(22 January 2025). Om Sveriges Radio| Sveriges Radio. Available at: https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/vad-ar-public-service(accessed 15 October 2025). 3  Swedish Media Authority(Myndigheten för press, radio och TV)(20 June 2024), Granskningsnämndens bedömning av public service-redovisningarna för 2023(Stockholm). Available at: https://mediemyndigheten.se/globalassets/rapporter-och-analyser/2024/granskningsnamndens-bedomning-av-public-service-redovisningar.pdf(accessed 1 August 2025). What is the state of public service media in Sweden? 1