On 7 March 2017, the Media Pluralism Commission presented to Norwegian Minister of Culture Linda Hofstad Helleland its report “Norwegian media pluralism – A stronger media policy for the public”.
The Commission proposed various changes to current media policy instruments, and put forward various new measures. Most of the measures apply for an initial four-year period, and the Commission has emphasised the need to evaluate the measures before deciding if they should be continued.
The ownership of public service broadcaster NRK should be transferred to an independent foundation. Moreover, the Commission proposes that the NRK's obligation to promote media diversity and to make its archives available should be reviewed regularly, for example in connection with the process that is to be carried out every four years in order to determine the NRK's income, the public broadcaster's impact on commercial media and the overall provision of media content to the public.
The exemption from VAT be extended to encompass all news and current affairs media. This means that media that cover a limited range of news, but cover these areas in depth, should also be included. The VAT-exemption should also apply to the purchase of single articles from publications that already are VAT-exempt.
A time-limited exemption from employer’s national insurance contributions for news-focused Norwegian media companies.
Retention of production grants for news media, albeit with several adjustments: local media receive a minimum grant of NOK 750,000; the grant rate for "number two newspapers" in cities (not the national, opinion-forming newspapers) will be replaced by the rate for local number two media. The change will be phased in over four years; the grant ceiling will be reduced to 27% of a recipient’s operating costs. The change will be phased in over four years.
The government should submit every four years a report to the Storting (The Norwegian Parliament) reviewing media policy objectives and instruments in the light of recent media developments.
The Media Pluralism Commission submitted an initial report on commercial broadcasting in October 2016 in which it concluded that, if the State still desires a commercial public service broadcaster based outside Oslo, there is a need for new instruments.
The Norwegian Government appointed the Media Pluralism Commission in September 2015, with a mandate to evaluate what the State’s media pluralism objectives should be and to examine the totality of Norwegian media output with particular focus on two areas: the function of news and current affairs media and the media in general in disseminating news and debate, as well as the impact of public service broadcasters on Norwegian language and culture. Based on this analysis, the Commission was asked to make proposals as to the focus of State fiscal policy instruments in order to promote open, informed public debate and diverse media output.