Are YLE going to stop Swedish Language service?

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:45 am

That is what some of the "better" folk fear.

http://www.yle.fi/news/left/id76162.html

With önly 6% of the population being Svenska Finsk ...
The other 94% might well consider that it is a too expensive service.
So with the need to cut costs...Är det..Hej Då Svenska TV på Finland?
But as Swedish is an official language it could well be a legal problem via the Finnish constitution.

Just to rub it in and stir things up a wee bit..what % of the population would prefer/watch more TV..(and therefore pay for their licences,) if a 100% English channel was offered instead of Swedish?
As many TV programs are produced in English it would also save cost of dubbing and sub tittles.

**Sponsor:**

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:28 am

sinikettu wrote: Just to rub it in and stir things up a wee bit..what % of the population would prefer/watch more TV..(and therefore pay for their licences,) if a 100% English channel was offered instead of Swedish?

That's actually quite a sensible idea if you think about likely audience size.

Interesting point about whether the constitution guarantees programming in all offissial langwitches. YLE have in recent years made cuts in the internationally-broadcast Finnish language radio service (much to the annoyance of many ex-pat Finns living abroad), and they are currently looking at cutting services on domestic Finnish language TV. So why should the Swedish language channel get any priority treatment?

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:49 am

Most of the Pay TV channels are in English..and they are probably more popular than YLE Swedish...and not far behind MTV3...but I just read that the YLE have hit on an idea on how to catch a few more TV licenece avoiders...Get the list of names of those that buy pay TV and check if they own licences...

Sorry not yet in English..
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/vasen/id76196.html

This bit I think means...The Minister is not sure that it would be legal for the Pay TV list of customers to be made available to YLE.
Liikenneministeri Suvi Lindén (kok.) ei usko, että maksu-tv:n asiakasrekisteriä voidaan avata tietosuojalain takia.

Edit.
Now also in English:
http://www.yle.fi/news/left/id76222.html

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:13 am

Now I think that they (at least used to) do similar in the UK. You buy a TV - the shop sends your details to the licence people.

Anyway, I blame those scummers who avoid paying the TV licence. I don't wish to reopen this old debate, but if you want to live in a society then you pay. It doesn't matter two hoots whether you disagree with the principle, or you don't understand all the Finnish language, or you only watch Al Jazeera on satellite. I don't have kids, but I still pay towards the daycare and education of yours

So get your hand in your pocket and fund my TV watching

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:23 am

Karhunkoski wrote:YLE have in recent years made cuts in the internationally-broadcast Finnish language radio service

I'd guess that is more to do duplication of service and the cost of maintaining obsolete equipment when high quality broadcasts are available over the web.

What I was a bit pissed off with was that the domestic news channel Yle24 that I used to watch every day, was scratched in favour of a yoof channel Yle Extra, which with the exception of the English footy matches it still carries, is utter pap.

Now there is talk that Yle Extra will get the chop.

Fargin iceholes.

What they should do is bring back MoonTV & ATV with the late night pron.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:51 am

As it is a government-controlled company there is a "Law on YLE" which says:

The public service programming shall in particular:
1) support democracy and everyone’s opportunity to participate by
providing a wide variety of information, opinions and debates
as well as opportunities to interact;

2) produce, create and develop Finnish culture, art and inspiring
entertainment;

3) take educational and equality aspects into consideration in the
programmes, provide an opportunity to learn and study, give focus on
programming for children, and offer devotional programmes;

4) treat in its broadcasting Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking citizens
on equal grounds and produce services in the Sami, Romany, and sign
languages as well as, where applicable, in the languages of other language
groups in the country;

5); support tolerance and multiculturalism and provide programming for
minority and special groups;

6) promote cultural interaction and provide programming directed abroad;
and

7) broadcast official announcements, for which further provisions shall be
issued by decree, and make provision for television and radio broadcasting
in exceptional circumstances

EP · Post by EP » Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:57 am

.what % of the population would prefer/watch more TV..(and therefore pay for their licences,) if a 100% English channel was offered instead of Swedish?

No, why would I want that? TV is full of Engish already now, and I can always brush the subtitles away if I want to. Plus all the satellite channels that speak English on top of it. Swedish-speakers watch Sweden´s "YLE", but FST is better.

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:00 pm

sinikala wrote:
Karhunkoski wrote:YLE have in recent years made cuts in the internationally-broadcast Finnish language radio service
I'd guess that is more to do duplication of service and the cost of maintaining obsolete equipment when high quality broadcasts are available over the web.

Yup, you're correct re the reasons, however carrying your computer around isn't quite as convenient as a short wave radio.

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:02 pm

Hank W. wrote: 4) treat in its broadcasting Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking citizens on equal grounds

That settles it then, both Finnish and Swedish speakers have equal rights to have their programming and channels reduced.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:26 pm

I read that YLE Xtra is going to be axed so no more International football (not that there is much coming up anyway

) but I did watch the Croatia game on YLE xtra.

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:40 pm

Karhunkoski wrote:
Hank W. wrote: 4) treat in its broadcasting Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking citizens on equal grounds
That settles it then, both Finnish and Swedish speakers have equal rights to have their programming and channels reduced.

That is easy then..
One less Swedish channel = zero left.
One Less Finnish channel = 2 left...

And.. EP I said "what % of the population"..you (like me) = a quite small %...

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:00 pm

penelope wrote:I read that YLE Xtra is going to be axed so no more International football (not that there is much coming up anyway ) but I did watch the Croatia game on YLE xtra.

The have usually shown the the FA cup on Yle24 / Extra, so that is why I'm a bit miffed. Not really arsed about international football.

Juha H. · Post by **Juha H.** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:21 pm

Stupid even to make any suggestions here that the Swedish Service would be discontinued. As was pointed out, even the law stipulates what can be done. Next, somebody may suggest that the Lappish outlets would be discontinued!

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:26 pm

Juha H. wrote:Stupid even to make any suggestions here that the Swedish Service would be discontinued. !

The first line in this thread..
"That is what some of the "better" folk fear."

Hence they went on strike...

superiorinferior · Post by **superiorinferior** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:51 pm

sinikettu wrote:
Juha H. wrote:Stupid even to make any suggestions here that the Swedish Service would be discontinued. !
The first line in this thread..
"That is what some of the "better" folk fear."

Hence they went on strike...

So let me get this straight, you (a minority foreigner who natively speaks neither of the national languages) are perpetuating ancient myths about the (small but significantly larger than English speaking) Swedish speaking population by using the "bättre folk" thing in English?

Then you go on to "Just to rub it in and stir things up a wee bit," and start in with the "why don't they have an all-English channel" schtick?

Just pay your license fee and be glad that you get any English TV in your Finnish TV diet at all.

If YLE was to abandon Swedish programming entirely, just how long do you think it would take for them to realize they could save even more money by dumping what little they spend on the English programming they offer?

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland