The Sweden Democrats may withdraw the substantial annual support they give to Riks, a media channel with close ties to the party, according to Göteborgs-Posten. The outlet reports that the party's executive committee is due to meet this week, where the party's operating budgets are expected to be discussed. A final decision on the funding rests with the party board, which is set to settle the budget in the middle of December, Göteborgs-Posten writes, citing Dagens Nyheter.
Riks has received a large donation from the Sweden Democrats in recent years, amounting to around 8 million kronor. According to Göteborgs-Posten, the company Rplay, which operates the channel, had a turnover of 16.2 million kronor in 2025, meaning the party support accounts for a considerable share of its income.
Jacob Hagnell, the chief executive of Riks, told the newspaper he has been deeply grateful for the money. He said the support is what allowed the channel to reach the position it holds today.
Why it matters
The question of whether the funding continues goes to the financial relationship between a political party and a media outlet that is widely described as aligned with it. For Riks, the subsidy is not a marginal item: on the figures reported by Göteborgs-Posten, it represents roughly half of the channel's annual revenue. Losing it would force the organisation to rely far more heavily on its own commercial income.
The timing also matters politically. The discussion is taking place inside the party's own structures rather than in public, and the decision will be taken as part of a broader budget process covering the party's operations. That means the outcome for Riks will be weighed alongside other spending priorities rather than treated as a standalone question.
A cost that has grown, and may be trimmed
Hagnell used a clothing metaphor to describe where things stand, telling Göteborgs-Posten that sometimes the outfit gets roomier and sometimes an organisation manages to make itself a little leaner, and that this is roughly where life currently is.
The channel currently has 15 employees, Hagnell said, along with a number of freelance contracts. If the support disappears, the paper reports that redundancies and dismissals could become relevant. Hagnell declined to confirm that, however.
He did acknowledge the general principle at stake. He told the newspaper that whether the name on the door is Volvo, Scania or Riks, the loss of a significant portion of turnover is a problem for any business.
According to Göteborgs-Posten, Hagnell also said Riks has worked hard to build its own sources of revenue since the channel launched, including through the party's YouTube channel.
What to watch
The party's executive committee meets this week, but the binding decision comes when the party board approves the budget in mid-December. Until then, the funding arrangement for Riks remains unresolved.
