Abstract In Norway, pluralism and localism combined to break up the state broadcast monopoly in radio and television. For a long time, this institution, Norsk Rikskringkasting (NRK), offered Norwegians high-quality but limited fare on one channel of each medium, both largely centralized in Oslo. Diversification began in 1981 with the licensing of noncommercial local broadcasting operations. At the same time, private cable operators started to carry more foreign satellite-delivered commercial channels. Challenged from two directions, broadcasting was opened. NRK remains by far the major broadcast institution, but without its past exclusivity.