NRK for free.Norwegian state television channels NRK1 and NRK2 can now be watched for free via the Internet.
NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) has no qualms, yet, about allowing the international cable net site Zattoo.com to use its content, newspaper VG reports.
"It is completely OK with us. Our approach in principle is that as many people as possible should have access to our services. We have been in contact with the company and could have stopped them if we wanted. As long as their operations are legal, it is OK with us," said Sigurd Sandvin, marketing and communications chief for NRK.
Sandvin said that there were as yet no worries that the Internet site could mean lost license fees for the state broadcaster.
NRK currently distributes a large part of its TV programming via the Internet, but due to legal reasons they cannot broadcast entire programs the way that Zattoo.com can, as a cable company.
"We would like to broadcast NRK live on the Internet and hope that in the future we can offer full distribution from our own web pages. We are working on getting all of the legal rights deals," Sandvin said.
Zattoo.com told VG that one of the reasons they expanded into Norway was NRK's cooperative attitude.
"We are in touch with broadcasting companies around the world and some places are easier than others to arrange rights. We reach a wider public than the companies do, those who don't have a TV or people at work, for example," Zattoo.com press spokeswoman Helen Schoch told VG.
Aftenposten English Web Desk
Jonathan Tisdall
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