Scrapping X Factor amongst DF’s proposals to cut DR’s budget

Blue bloc party wants to trim costs down from 3.7 to 3 billion kroner a year

Difficult to know what’s scarier: the 741,746 voters who backed Dansk Folkeparti (DF) in the 2015 General Election or the 1.57 million Danes who watched the 2016 grand final of ‘X Factor’.

And on Friday, those two segments of the Danish population came crashing into one another when DF proposed that maybe it was time for DR to dispose of its colossally popular TV show to cut costs and concentrate more on its remit to provide a public service – including more programs featuring jazz and folk music.

Overall, DF has proposed in today’s Berlingske newspaper that DR should cut its annual budget by 700 million kroner to 3 billion kroner a year moving on from 2018 – questioning high executive salaries in the process – and it is believed there is general support amongst the blue bloc parties.

Let them be entertained!
DR chairman Michael Christiansen, however, has warned that further cuts will see widespread redundancies and far less original DR content, and that cutting light entertainment programs like X Factor made little sense.

“DR needs to apply to the entire Danish population and contain elements that make up all our lives,” he told DR. “Just 8 percent of our content is entertainment and the programs certainly contain public service elements.”

Boost for private media
Danske Medier has applauded DF’s proposals. Ebbe Dal, the chief executive of the trade organisation for privately-owned media, said it will help his members get more readers to pay for their content.

“If the public have free access to a quality news service like DR, they’ll choose it over something that is payable,” he said according to Berlingske.

DR the least of their worries
However, Socialdemokraterne culture spokesperson Mogens Jensen dismissed the argument. “It’s a myth,” he said according to Berlingske.

“In the United States there is no public service media at all, but the newspapers’ situation is just as bad as in Denmark with competitors such as Facebook, YouTube and major foreign, social media.

Red bloc freeze?
Negotiations have not yet begun on the new media agreement with DR.

Several red bloc parties fear they won’t be invited to participate in the talks.




  • In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    He’s tickled our funny bone with countless wisecracks and clever wordplay, and in the process, made Denmark feel a little more personable to many expats. An international import himself, funny man Conrad Molden has successfully carved out a niche for himself on the Danish stand-up scene, but it’s taken a solid 13 years, much trial and error, and heaps of Danglish

  • Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rimes with integrating

    Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rimes with integrating

    On Wednesday, April 30, from 17:00 to 20:00, Studenterhuset will host Volunteer Night 2025, a free event organized by the organization International House Copenhagen, which goal is to ease the relocation process for newcomers in Denmark

  • The international who shaped Copenhagen

    The international who shaped Copenhagen

    Anna Maria Indrio is one of the most important architects in Denmark, having contributed to shaping Copenhagen into what it is today. Among her best-known projects are the extension of SMK and Arken, as well as the Natural History Museum and the Darwin Centre in London. She moved here 60 years ago, when “Copenhagen was gray and dormant. Predictions suggested it would become depopulated. But putting people at the center changed everything,” she said

  • Danish government passes amendment to increase citizenship fee by 50%

    Danish government passes amendment to increase citizenship fee by 50%

    Fees were raised to reflect processing costs and curb repeat applications, creating debate over whether the new charges erect barriers to political participation for internationals.

  • Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    According to a report by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, internationals’ contribution is 12% of the country’s GDP. In 2023, it was 322 billion DKK, and in 2008, it was 136 billion DKK. “Internationals make a gigantic difference in our prosperity and welfare,” comments Morten Langager, the Director of Dansk Erhverv.

  • Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    With half of its staff being international, the BioInnovation Institute reflects Denmark’s broader transformation into a global innovation hub. But can the country—and Europe—keep up the pace? “If reforms are made now, we can close the gap in ten years,” explains BII’s CEO

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.