Information: Arnland

Information Overview

Arnland’s communication infrastructure and landscape is no different than most nations. Citizens and visitors alike partake in a society that allows them the freedom to listen, watch, read and socially engage in a modern digital world. The only barrier to full participation is creativity and knowledge.

The setting of today’s Arnland can be traced back to 1991 when the communist regime was replaced by a democratically elected multi‐party system. Those behind the change were bright, young, ambitious, and determined to lead the nation on a journey of change and hope. The early years of transformation were positive. A new constitution was drafted and unanimously passed that among other things guarantees freedom of the press and the public’s right to access to information. A spirit of cooperation existed amongst all elected officials. It was a refreshing business‐like attitude within the Allting. When necessary elected members would put aside party politics to collectively focus on delivering an open, honest and transparent government to the people.

Several all‐party committees were created under the authority and neutrality of the Speaker’s Office. The National Assembly Communication Committee is one example. It was set up to provide oversight of government communications and advertising – specifically to ensure that government messaging was free of partisan language and intent.

Communication Offices and Branches were another example of the new government’s openness. Most of these communication bureaus exist to serve the government ministries, Officers of the Allting, the Offices of the President, Prime Minister and Speaker. In theory these bureaus and their staff are supposed to be non‐partisan but today that is not always the case.

Political parties and politicians are actively communicating their messages to selected audiences. Generally speaking they employ staff and volunteers to advice, support, counter and manipulate scenarios utilizing all forms of media depending upon their experience, understanding and contacts with the news industry.

Public Communications Media

Large media properties are dominated by three entities:

• The Halland Media Group
• The Krono Group
• Bolmen Incorporated There are also a number of independently owned radio stations within the country with operating licenses based upon political connections. Arnland’s media is widely accessible and generally reflects the beliefs and values of the nation. Based upon undocumented community standards the news media adheres to its own unwritten self‐censorship. Print products are available in digital and traditional print formats. Television is digital but radio, like the rest of the world is in a transitional phase that will take several years to implement. All commercial FM radio stations broadcast in analogue with some also broadcasting in parallel in digital. Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB+) is green technology that offers many benefits. Broadcasters can save upwards of 90% of their distribution costs while having five times more channels because of efficient use of spectrum. From a listeners’ perspective, consumers enjoy better sound, more choice of stations and new features like text information and other multi‐media content.

Satellite

Arnland is serviced by three satellites:

• One Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
• One Eutelsat
• One Inmarsat (Atlantic & Indian Ocean regions). The Inmarsat earth station is shared with (Denmark, Otso, Iceland & Norway

Television and Radio

Radio. Arnland has seven radio stations that can be heard anywhere across the nation.

MHz	Station	Format	CEO	Media Group
96.8	Radio 1	Modern	Ragvald Melin	Bolmen Incorporated
97.2	Radio 2	Classical/Blues/Jazz	Rene Fager
98.7	Radio 3	Current affairs	Saloman Molander
99.5	Independent FM	Modern	Tengil Frykman	Halland Group
94.2	Arnland FM	Modern	Maila Hedsom	Krono Group
95	Arnland News	Current affairs	Raimon Hurtig	Krono Group
95.8	Skolkan FM	Modern/News	Ulf Huss

Table INFO-1. National Radio Stations in Arnland

There are small independent radio broadcasters operating in the country. The formats vary but music and local news are key factors to winning favor with the local audiences.

MHz	Station	Format	CEO	Media Group
88.7	Alsstad Radio	General Service	Palle Kindell
90.5	Halland Independent	General Service	Olagus Helle	Halland Group
92.4	Jönköping Radio	General Service	Igor Fagerstorm
93.8	Kalmar Radio	General Service	Quintus Hammar
93.2	North Kalmar Independent Radio	General Service	Pedro Isberg
95.2	Blekinge Radio	General Service	Janie Freberg	Krono Group
96.8	Kronoberg Radio	General Service	Odd Magnus	Krono Group
97.8	Skåne Independent	General Service	Maila Melander	Halland Group

Table INFO-2. Small Independent Radio Stations in Arnland

Television. Most of the population in Arnland receives their television through a rented digital decoder box. The box is available through the country’s only cable company Phox TV. Viewers can access more than thirty channels including the country’s four main broadcasters and other regional stations.

Station	Format	CEO	Media Group
4	24 hour minority interest programs		Independent Media
Al Jazeera (English)	24‐hour news and current affairs		Al Jazeera
APBS	Current affairs		PBS Arnland
Arnland TV4	24-hour news and general entertainment channel	Olaf Moberg	Krono Group
Arte Francais	Culture		Monde Group
ATV One	24-hour news and general entertainment channel	Morton Lindskog	Bolmen Incorporated
ATV Two	24-hour sports and news channel	Raimo Palm	Bolmen Incorporated
BBC World	24-hour news		PBS UK
Bloomberg TV Europe	News		Bloomberg Group
CNBC Europe	Euro News		NBC USA
CNN	24-hour news		Time Warner
DAN TV 1 HD	24-hour news and general entertainment channel		PBS Denmark
DAN TV 2 HD	24-hour news and general entertainment channel		PBS Denmark
DAN Independent TV3 HD	24-hour news and general entertainment channel		DANSAT Media Corp
Discovery	24		Discovery Communications
Eurosport	24-hour sport		TF1 Group
Fox	24-hour US entertainment channel		News Corporation
France 24	French language news and current affairs		Monde Group
Holiday	Holiday sales		QVC
GOD TV Europe	Religious affairs		Angel Charities Global
Independent TV3 A	24‐hour news and general entertainment channel	Eric Nordlander	Halland Group
Kerrang	Music		Bauer Media Group
Kiss	Music		Channel 5 UK
MTV	24-hour music, video		US Cable TV
Pay TV	Sport, entertainment, and specialty channels		DANSAT Media Corp
QVC	24-hour shopping		QVC
Sky News	24-hour news-Europe		Sky
TCM	24-hour film channel		Turner Media Corp
Torrike Channel 8	24-hour news and general entertainment – Language Torrikan	Siv Lundstrom
Sporty Skolkan	24-hour sports and news – Language Torrikan
Torrike Channel 12	24-hour news and general entertainment – Language Torrikan and English
The Box TV Music	24-hour music		Channel 4 UK
Viasat Football	24-hour sport		Modern Times Group
Viasat Film	24-hour films		Modern Times Group
Weather Film	24-hour weather		The Weather Channel ‐ NBC

Table INFO-3. Arnland Television Stations

The second option for viewers is direct home satellite. It is more expensive but the preferred choice for viewing by a much smaller portion of the population. Home satellite systems are available through independent operators who offer a broader variety of international programming. Digital terrestrial is also an option but virtually non‐existent for today’s media savvy audience.

Print Media

There are three daily newspapers available national in Arnland.

Newspaper	Language	Format	Founded	Av Daily Circulation (2005)	CEO	Media Group
Arnish Independent	Arnish	General daily broadsheet	1953	75,667	Ragnar Moden	Halland Group
Arnland Daily Star	Arnish	General daily broadsheet	1951	64,484	Reimar Personius	Krono Group
Arnish Times	Arnish	Daily tabloid	1992	62,561	Ollie Reiden

Table INFO-4. Arnland Daily Papers

Each publication is based in Alsstad but maintains access to or owns a satellite printing operations. Newspapers are offshoots of political parties. News coverage by Arnland’s major dailies is generally balanced. However, editorially policies are biased towards political parties and leanings.

Telephone and Internet

Arnland Telephone Network (ATN) is a subsidiary of the government and is the largest telephone company providing services and infrastructure across the country. Land line telephone service is still available but has seen a steady decrease in customers who have embraced feature and smart phone devices for voice calling and texting. Under the government’s authority ATN is also the country’s main digital internet provider. It manages 80% of the available spectrum under the corporate name of ARNET. The remaining 20% has been allocated to nine independent internet service providers via a bid process. ATN enjoys a monopoly until the end of 2018.

The Arnland international dialing code +463. Submarine cables provide links to other countries and mainland Europe.

The Internet country code for Arnland is .ay.

Agencies

The Ministry of Public Works, Transportation, Telecommunications and Information Technology is the government’s interface with the people, specifically the greater Communication Industry.

Given the diversity of the Ministry it is often referred to as a ‘super ministry’ and its portfolios are referred to separately. The ministry is known for having knowledgeable junior and mid‐level staff but like many government ministries and departments key positions are held by individuals who know more about business than about being a career civil servant.

Under the authority and guidance of the Minister’s Office, the ministry is the government’s point of contact for all communication and telecommunication matters and issues both domestically and internationally.

The National Commission on Media Affairs has oversight over the domestic radio and television industries as well as digital media. The Commission’s mandate is to approve and issue broadcast and telecom network licenses, spectrum dissemination and management, enforce regulations, develop policy and advise the government.

Like any government body the Commission has the authority to hold hearings anywhere in the country to deal with national, regional and local issues of concern.