Stöð 2

Television channel From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stöð 2 (literally Channel 2) was a pay television channel in Iceland. It was launched in 1986 as Iceland's first independent television broadcaster. It was later part of the 365 corporation, which was eventually acquired by Sýn.

TypePay television channel
CountryIceland
Network365 (media corporation)
Sýn
LanguageIcelandic
Quick facts Type, Country ...
Stöð 2
TypePay television channel
CountryIceland
Network365 (media corporation)
Sýn
Programming
LanguageIcelandic
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerSýn
History
Launched9 October 1986
Closed12 June 2025
Replaced bySýn (TV channel)
Links
Websitewww.stod2.is
Close

In 2025, the Stöð 2 brand was retired and replaced by Sýn, including all sub-channels.[1]

History

In the 1980s, television in Iceland only consisted of a single channel from the public broadcaster, RÚV. Political and general view towards independent television began to change and in 1985, new laws were approved allowing private broadcasting. Stöð 2, operated by Íslenska Sjónvarpsfélagið, began broadcasts in 1986.[2]

New media laws of 1986

During the big BSRB strike in the fall of 1984, almost all of RÚV's activities shut down and several illegal radio stations sprung up. As a result, consideration was given to revising the broadcasting laws during the tenure of Minister of Education, Ragnhildur Helgadóttir. A new law, which allowed private radio and television stations, was approved by Alþingi on June 13, 1985, and came into effect at the beginning of 1986.[3][4] Until that time, there had been two radio stations and one television station operating in Iceland, Rás 1 and Rás 2 and Sjónvarpið (RÚV).

Start of Stöð 2

Stöð 2 went on the air on 9 October 1986, as a pay television station over VHF with a scrambled program where the subscriber had to buy a code number and enter a video code to unscramble the broadcast. Broadcasts were limited to the Reykjavík Capital Region initially but were later expanded.[2]

Television presenter Jón Óttar and Vala Matt were prominent on the screen during the first days of the station. The line-up was made up of imported entertainment, dramatised Icelandic entertainment and news. It was difficult to get investors to participate in the company to begin with.

At the beginning of 1987, there were about 5,000 subscribers, but by the end of the year there had been almost 30,000. At the same time, the number of employees increased and the station began to match RÚV in terms of programmers and reporters, which was considered unheard of.[citation needed]

Stöð 2's encrypted VHF broadcasts ended in 2011.[5]

Unification of the brand

Many sister stations were operated under the same company, but in 2008 they were all united under the name of Stöð 2, thus the sports station Sýn became Stöð 2 Sport. Sirkus became 'Stöð 2 Extra and Fjölvarpið became Stöð 2 Fjölvarp, on the other hand, Stöð 2 Bíó kept its name. [citation needed]

In 2017, Fjarskipti hf. (Vodafone Iceland) acquired 365.[6]

Retirement of brand

On June 12, 2025, Sýn retired the Stöð 2 brand, including all sub-stations, to be replaced by Sýn. Stöð 2 was effectively replaced by the Sýn (TV channel), a free-to-air channel.[1]

Programming

Recurring

  • Fréttir, the station's flagship evening news program, every evening at 6:30 pm
  • Ísland í dag, a daily magazine covering various aspects of life in Iceland such as politics, culture and entertainment. It also includes sport, news and weather

Original programming

Running times

  • 1986–1988 opens at 8:00 and close at 23:00.
  • 1988–1995 opens at 6:00 and close at 0:00.
  • 1995–2024 open 24 hours.

See also

References

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