SVT cuts jobs and suspends several well-known programmes as Sweden’s public broadcaster pushes ahead with a SEK 355 million cost-saving plan (about €32.6 million). The measures, announced on 30 March, affect news, sport, drama and entertainment, and will hit staff in Stockholm, Umeå, Gothenburg and Växjö.
The broadcaster said 141 positions are affected by the redundancy notice, with around two thirds linked to the news and sport division. Among the entertainment titles being paused are Carina Bergfeldt, Hotell Romantik, Vem bor här?, Frågan är fri, Antikmagasinet and Jullov.
Why SVT cuts jobs and freezes popular formats
SVT had already warned in February that it needed to save SEK 355 million because of higher terrestrial broadcasting costs and new resilience and digital preparedness requirements. The broadcaster has argued that money intended for journalism and programming is increasingly being absorbed by infrastructure and security-related obligations.
In its latest announcement, SVT said the cuts are intended to protect what it sees as its core public service role, including investigative reporting, nationwide coverage and content adapted to changing audience habits. Chief executive Anne Lagercrantz described the decisions as painful but necessary.
Newsrooms and regional hubs from Stockholm to Växjö are affected
The restructuring will not be limited to entertainment. SVT said most of the affected jobs are in news and sport, with the main impact falling on operations in Stockholm, Umeå, Gothenburg and Växjö. Swedish media also reported further internal reorganisation, including the merger of the Agenda and Aktuellt editorial teams.
At regional level, the cuts are expected to reshape how some local news output is produced. In Växjö, for example, SVT said local TV news for Småland and Jönköping will no longer be broadcast from the city from the turn of 2026–2027.
Carina Bergfeldt and Hotell Romantik among the suspended shows
The most visible part of the package for audiences is the suspension of several recognisable formats. Carina Bergfeldt, SVT’s flagship talk show, and Hotell Romantik, a popular dating series for people over 65, are both among the programmes put on hold. Other paused shows include Vem bor här?, Frågan är fri, Antikmagasinet and the children’s holiday programme Jullov.
Swedish coverage also noted that the interview programme 30 minuter will end, although SVT has indicated that decision is tied to a broader editorial reshaping rather than the savings plan alone. The broadcaster also expects fewer live sports broadcasts, mainly because it will reduce spending on rights, while saying it still intends to prioritise major championships and national events.
