TV-aksjonen – a Norwegian phenomenon

We would like to invite you to take part in the annual Norwegian tradition; the NRK Telethon. Every autumn this nationwide charity campaign raises money for a chosen cause. On the 23th of October we need 100 000 people all over Norway to go door-to-door in their neighborhoods, asking for donations for this year's charity, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders and DNDi (Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative). We hope you would like to sign up and join us on the most important Sunday stroll of the year.

The NRK Telethon is granted to a different Norwegian organization every year. An independent board of representatives selects the winner based on submitted applications from organizations. The NRK Telethon typically raises between 180 and 240 million NOK, and the organizations are given a timeframe of five years to implement their proposed projects.

The largest fundraising and information campaign in Norway
The NRK Telethon is the largest information campaign and fundraising event in Norway. It involves everyone from local communities to the Royal Family. On the day of the Telethon, NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation) broadcasts a six-hour long TV-show reporting from the chosen countries and projects in the field.

They also broadcast live from the many fundraising activities happening across the country. A live auction takes place in the TV studio and various musicians and artists dedicated to the cause, perform on stage. While money from the door-to door fundraisers is counted, viewers can in real-time check how their county is doing compared to others. This friendly competition is one of many elements making the NRK Telethon a unique national tradition.

Celebrities and spokespersons are also invited to feature in the world’s longest radio show hosted by P3, Norway’s biggest radio channel for youth and young adults. The program is 100 hours long and raised over 8. 4 million NOK in 2021.

A long tradition
The Telethon, with all its activities, has a massive reach in local, regional and national media. Local papers feature community members engaged in fundraising activities, and write stories to mobilize volunteers for the door-to-door campaign. In the weeks leading up to the day itself, the NRK Telethon is one of the most visible news items in Norwegian media.

As part of the awareness campaign schools all over the country are invited to use a free online education program, based on the topic of the Telethon. The material is age appropriate and developed for students in primary and secondary school.

The NRK Telethon has run every year since 1974. This year’s Telethon is happening the 23th of October