WORLD PRESS TRENDS - World Association of Newspapers

ICELAND
Research
Circulation is audited by: The Iceland Chamber of Commerce
audits the paid-for daily Morgunblaðið and the free daily
Fréttablaðið.
Readership is measured by: Gallup, on behalf of the Icelandic
Association of Advertising Agencies and some of the larger
media companies.
Methodology: Surveys are twice per year, in March and October,
and based on diary method (media use for one week). Sample
size is 1,500, aged between 12 and 80.
Taxes
VAT on: sales 14% advertising 24.5%
newsprint 24.5% plant 24.5%
composition 24.5% (standard VAT rate 24.5%)
Advertising and bill-posting are both taxed at the standard
rate of 24.5%.
Newspapers pay the standard 18% tax on profit in 2003.
Subsidies
Are there subsidies for the purchase of newsprint No
Are loans granted at low interest rates for re-equipping or improving
existing equipment No
Discounts
on: post 50%+* telephone 0 telegraph 0 telex 0
* Depends upon the weight. Discounts are given for postal
delivery of newspapers and magazines to subscribers only.
Ownership
Does any law exist governing publishing-house ownership, or the
registration of shares in newspaper-publishing companies No
Is there any law prohibiting or restricting foreign companies or
individuals from owning shares, and in particular, the majority of
shares, of domestic daily newspapers No restrictions on individuals
or companies domiciled in the European Economic Area (EU +
Iceland + Norway + Liechtenstein). Other foreign individuals
and companies are subject to general regulations set for foreign
capital investment.
Is there any law prohibiting daily newspaper or periodical publishers
from operating radio or television stations in the same locality No
So as to guarantee disclosure and transparency in the capital structure
and to avert silent partnerships, is there a law or rule making it
possible to determine who actually owns a publishing company No
Is there an antitrust law limiting concentration in the daily press
No. There are no laws directed specifically at the daily press or
any other mass medium. There are however, general antitrust
laws and a regulatory/surveillance body for the
supervision of possible restrictive business practices. The laws
do not provide an exact ‘threshold’ of what is or should be
conceived as an unlawful market barrier.
Is further regulation of media concentration expected No
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WORLD ASSOCIATION OF NEWSPAPERS - WORLD PRESS TRENDS 2003