Founded in 1933, Norsk Rikskringkasting is Norway's government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company. It is financed primarily through a combination of a mandatory yearly license fee for each person who owns a TV set, and a number of commercial activities such as programme and DVD sales, spin-off products and certain types of sponsorship.

Norway's major broadcasting institution currently runs three national radio channels and four national TV channels, with approximately 100 per cent coverage via analogue, digital, cable and satellite systems. NRK has 12 regional offices which produce bi-medially for the local broadcasts and for the national networks. Sámi Radio is a special division, producing programmes for the Sámi population. See The Sámi for more information on Sámi culture.