Few names have been as influential in Iceland’s media environment as 365, the company that left an indelible mark on the country’s radio, television and press over several decades. Its story traces the rapid changes in Icelandic society as the nation moved from state-run broadcasting towards a complex and varied commercial media landscape.
Private broadcast pioneers and new voices
The roots of 365 reach back to 1986, when the private radio station Bylgjan began airing. It was a significant development for Icelanders, offering an alternative to state-run media for the first time. That same year, Stöð 2 launched as Iceland’s original subscription-based television channel, quickly finding an audience eager for new content.
By 1995, the company was expanding with Sýn, a dedicated sports channel, and added Bíórásin, a film channel, in 1998. This period marked a shift, as Icelanders gained access to a growing range of specialised channels in their own language alongside foreign content re-broadcast through 365’s digital system.
Consolidation and diversification in the digital age
The shape of the company changed dramatically in the early 2000s, beginning with telecom mergers that created Og fjarskipti in 2003, itself the result of combining Íslandssími, Tal, and Halló!. This new entity entered both media and telecommunications, acquiring major internet service providers and the media company Norðurljós. Renamed Dagsbrún in 2005, the company became Iceland’s largest network provider and diversified far beyond Iceland’s borders with stakes as far as the UK.
365 soon emerged as the group’s media wing. In addition to its television and radio channels, it began publishing Fréttablaðið in 2001, a free daily newspaper that quickly became a household presence. Other outlets followed, including specialist radio channels such as FM957, X-ið 977, and digital-only options.
Year 2008 brought a unified Stöð 2 brand identity to the television stations, Sýn became Stöð 2 Sport, and similarly, other channels adopted updated names emphasising their connection. Through this period, Vísir.is, the group’s online portal, emerged as a hub of news and digital content.
A changing landscape and enduring impact
In 2017, a major transition took place as most of 365’s assets, including key television, radio, and the news website visir.is, were sold to the telecom company Fjarskipti ehf, part of Vodafone Iceland. The company kept Fréttablaðið and redirected its digital focus to a new site, frettabladid.is.
Shifts in ownership continued. By 2019, investors led by Helgi Magnússon acquired 365’s shares in Torg ehf, the publisher of Fréttablaðið, marking another chapter in this media legacy. Over thirty years after its origins, 365’s influence remains present in the platforms and habits it helped foster within Icelandic daily life.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
