Sýn ends television news after nearly 40 years

Broadcaster Sýn aired its final television news bulletin on Monday evening after nearly 40 years, mbl.is reported. Kolbeinn Tumi Daðason, editor of Sýn’s news department, read the evening news for the last time.

“Today is a day of sorrow and a day of strong emotions,” Daðason told mbl.is. He said the newsroom had experienced anger, sadness, irritation and disappointment, but would return the next day and continue working at full pace.

“We are putting a full stop to a 40-year history, and that is naturally very difficult,” he said. He described the launch of the news operation by its pioneers four decades ago as a revolution and said it had since become a major part of Icelandic society.

Daðason said he was pleased by the strong public reaction after the decision was announced, but regretted that television news was no longer financially sustainable. He said media organisations in general were under pressure, with advertising revenue flowing to large foreign companies and audiences becoming accustomed to not paying for news.

He said he hoped the government was working on measures to strengthen the media market. Media organisations also needed to find ways to improve their financial position and work with consumers on solutions, he said.

Daðason said Sýn would now devote greater resources to news services on Vísir and Bylgjan. He said the services would continue to provide lively news, including in a television format, although not as an evening bulletin at 6.30pm.