Christian TV channel set to go off the air in Norway

The channel’s parent company, Vårt Land, announced on Monday that they were “liquidating the company”. According to the Christian news publication, dwindling revenues in the media industry and a challenging financial situation have been cited as reasons for the closure.

“Unfortunately, the financial situation in the Norwegian media industry has turned around. The channel was launched in boom times, but soon faced downturns. This autumn, most major Norwegian media groups announced major cuts, and now we are discontinuing this project,” said Bjørn Kristoffer Bore, who is the editor-in-chief and managing director of Vårt Land.

Investors

Bore also said that the channel’s profitability was a “longer road than imagined,” making it impossible to continue its operations. Earlier, Vårt Land contributed over 558,000 Euros (6 million NOK) and handed over a loan worth over 372, 500 Euros (4 million NOK) to the TV channel.

Christian Norwegian daily starts TV channel

25-04-2022

According to Dagen, a date has not been set for the closure. Throughout the channel’s nine-month history, it was set up under an advertising revenue model. Channel manager, Alf Gjøsund, said that while it is a “very, very sad day,” he remains hopeful that other investors can take over its operations.

“It must be that someone sees what we are now losing and wants to inject money or take over the operation. It's not something that I believe in, but if there is someone who can think of a solution then I think the owners will listen to it,” he said.

Denominations

TVL first went on the air in April 2022. It has been rated as a top Christian TV channel in its viewership and it has been popular among Christians from various denominations including, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists and Catholics. However, even after the TV channel’s shutdown, Vårt Land will continue to operate. According to Bjørn Kristoffer Bore, the newspaper has experienced continued growth in their circulation.