Norway’s national lottery draw leaves public broadcaster NRK after 40 years

Norway’s weekly Lotto draw will air for the last time on state broadcaster NRK on Saturday evening, ending a nearly 40-year tradition, Dagbladet reports.

From 18 April, the draws will move exclusively to platforms controlled by Norsk Tipping, the state-owned gambling operator, including its website and mobile app. The four presenters who have hosted the NRK broadcasts will continue in their roles, the company confirmed.

“Lotto has been a fixed part of NRK’s schedule for nearly 40 years,” said Jan Egil Ådland, NRK’s head of television. “Over the decades, it has become a natural part of Saturday evenings for many viewers.”

The shift follows a challenging period for Norsk Tipping, which has faced regulatory fines totalling 119.5 million kroner (approx. €10.5 million) after technical errors—including a 2023 incident where thousands of Norwegians were incorrectly notified they had won multi-million-krone prizes.

Ingrid Roterud Mathisen, Norsk Tipping’s head of lotteries and draws, left open the possibility of a future return to linear TV. “For now, our priority is ensuring high-quality broadcasts on our own channels,” she told NRK.