European Broadcasting Union
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Alliance of public service media entities

"EBU" redirects here. For other uses, see EBU (disambiguation).

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU; French: Union européenne de radio-télévision, UER) is an alliance of public service media organisations whose countries are within the European Broadcasting Area or who are members of the Council of Europe. As of 2024 , it is made up of 123 member organisations from 56 countries,[2] and 31 associate members from a further 20 countries.[3] It was established in 1950, and has its administrative headquarters in Geneva.

The EBU owns and operates the Eurovision and Euroradio telecommunications networks on which major television and radio broadcasts are distributed live to its members. It also operates the daily Eurovision news exchange in which members share breaking news footage. In 2017, the EBU launched the Eurovision Social Newswire, an eyewitness and video verification service. Led by Head of Social Newsgathering, Derek Bowler, the service provides members of the EBU with verified and cleared-for-use newsworthy eyewitness media emerging on social media.[4]

The EBU, in co-operation with its members, produces programmes and organises events in which its members can participate, such as the Eurovision Song Contest, its best known production, or the Eurovision Debates between candidates for president of the European Commission for the 2014, 2019 and 2024 parliamentary elections.[5] The Director-General is Noel Curran since 2017.

General description

[edit]

EBU members are public service media (PSM) broadcasters established by law but are non-partisan, independent and run for the benefit of society as a whole.

EBU members come from as far north as Iceland and as far south as Egypt, from Ireland in the west and Azerbaijan in the east, and almost every nation from geographical Europe in between. Associate members from the United States include ABC, CBS, NBC, CPB, NPR, APM and the only individual station, Chicago-based classical music radio WFMT.[3]

Membership is for media organisations whose countries are within the European Broadcasting Area, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union, or who are members of the Council of Europe.[6]

Members benefit from:

Access to content ranging from exclusive sports rights to exchanges for news, music and children's programs.

Representatives in Brussels, and in other international arenas, lobbying for PSM and ensuring the optimal legal and technical framework for broadcasters.

Opportunities for sharing, learning and collaborating through conferences, working groups, training, and dedicated advice and guidance.

A centre for learning and sharing new technology and innovation with a team of experts providing strategic advice and guidance.

The EBU's highest-profile production is the Eurovision Song Contest. The EBU also organises the Eurovision Dance Contest, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the Eurovision Young Dancers competition, and other competitions which are modeled along similar lines.

Radio collaborations include Euroclassic Notturno—an overnight classical music stream, produced by BBC Radio 3 and broadcast in the United Kingdom as Through the Night—and special theme days, such as the annual Christmas music relays from around Europe.[7] The EBU is a member of the International Music Council.

Most EBU broadcasters have group deals to carry major sporting events including the FIFA World Cup and the inaugural European Championships. Another annually recurring event which is broadcast across Europe through the EBU is the Vienna New Year's Concert.[8]

Eurovision Media Services is the business arm of the EBU and provides media services for many media organisations and sports federations around the world.

Ident

[edit]

The theme music played before and after every EBU broadcast is Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Prelude to Te Deum. It is played before and after the Eurovision Song Contest and other important events.[9]

History

[edit]

The EBU was a successor to the International Broadcasting Union (IBU) that was founded in 1925 and had its administrative headquarters in Geneva and technical office in Brussels. It fostered programming exchanges between members and mediated technical disputes between members that were mostly concerned with frequency and interference issues. It was in effect taken over by Nazi Germany during the Second World War, and thereafter the Allies viewed it as a compromised organisation that they could not trust.

In the spring of 1946, representatives of the Soviet radio committee proposed forming a new organisation; however, at the same time preparations were being made for an inter-governmental "European Broadcasting Conference" in Copenhagen in 1948 to draw up a new plan for frequency use in the European Broadcasting Area. It was considered necessary to have an organisation that could implement the "Copenhagen Wavelength Plan" but there was disagreement among broadcasters and particularly a fear expressed by the BBC that a new association might be dominated by the USSR and its proposal to give each of its constituent states one vote. France proposed that it would have four votes with the inclusion of its North African colonies. The United Kingdom felt it would have little influence with just one vote.

On 27 June 1946, the alternative International Broadcasting Organisation (IBO) was founded with 26 members and without British participation. The following day the IBU met in General Assembly and an attempt was made to dissolve it but failed; though 18 of its 28 members left to join the IBO.[10] For a period of time in the late 1940s both the IBU and IBO vied for the role of organising frequencies but Britain decided to be in involved in neither. The BBC attempted but failed to find suitable working arrangements with them. However, for practical purposes, the IBO rented the IBU technical centre in Brussels and employed its staff. The BBC then proposed a new solution based on the IBO changing its constitution so there will be only one member per International Telecommunication Union (ITU) country, thus ensuring a Western majority over the USSR and its satellite states. In August 1949 a meeting took place in Stresa, Italy but it resulted in disagreement between delegates on how to resolve the problems. One proposal was for the European Broadcasting Area to be replaced by one that would exclude Eastern Europe, the Levant and North Africa.

After Stresa, a consensus emerged among the Western Europeans to form a new organisation and the BBC proposed it be based in London. Meetings in Paris on 31 October and 1 November 1949 sealed the fate of the IBU and IBO, but it was decided not to allow West Germany to be a founder of the new organisation. On 13 February 1950 the European Broadcasting Union had its first meeting with 23 members from the ITU defined European Broadcasting Area at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay, England, United Kingdom. The first president was Ian Jacob of the BBC who remained at the helm for 10 years while its operation was largely dominated by the BBC due to its financial, technical and staff input. The most important difference between the EBU and its predecessors was that EBU membership was for broadcasters and not governments. Early delegates said EBU meetings were cordial and professional and very different from the abrupt tone of its predecessors. West Germany was admitted in 1951 and a working relationship forged with the USSR's Organisation for International Radio and TV (OIRT) which existed in parallel with the EBU until its merger on 1 January 1993.[10]

In 1967, the first concert in the International Concert Season of the European Broadcasting Union was broadcast from the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.[11]

Technical activities

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The objective of the EBU's technical activities is simply to assist EBU Members (see below) in this period of unprecedented technological changes. This includes the provision of technical information to Members via conferences and workshops, as well as in written form (such as the EBU Technical Review, and the EBU tech-i magazine).

The EBU also encourages active collaboration between its Members on the basis that they can freely share their knowledge and experience, thus achieving considerably more than individual Members could achieve by themselves. Much of this collaboration is achieved through Project Groups which study specific technical issues of common interest: for example, EBU Members have long been preparing for the revision of the 1961 Stockholm Plan.

The EBU places great emphasis on the use of open standards. Widespread use of open standards (such as MPEG-2, DAB, DVB, etc.) ensures interoperability between products from different vendors, as well as facilitating the exchange of programme material between EBU Members and promoting "horizontal markets" for the benefit of all consumers.

EBU Members and the EBU Technical Department have long played an important role in the development of many systems used in radio and television broadcasting, such as:

The AES/EBU digital audio interface, formally known as AES3;

Serial and parallel interfaces for digital video (ITU-R Recommendations 601 and 656);

RDS – the radio data system used on FM broadcasting.

The EBU Loudness Recommendation R 128 and 'EBU Mode' meters (EBU Tech 3341)

The EBU has also actively encouraged the development and implementation of:

Digital radio (DAB) through Eureka Project 147 and the WorldDAB Forum.

DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) through the DVB Project and DigiTAG.

Digital radio in the bands currently used for AM broadcasting through Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM).

Standardisation of PVR systems through the TV-Anytime Forum.

Development of other content distribution networks on the internet through P2PTV; EBU Project Group D/P2P, from November 2007 to April 2008, with a trial of selected member channels, thanks to Octoshape's distribution platform.[12] The EBU is also part of the European P2P-Next project.

Controversies

[edit]

Greek state broadcaster (2013)

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On 11 June 2013, the Greek government shut down the state broadcaster Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) on short notice, citing government spending concerns related to the European debt crisis.[13] In response, the EBU set up a makeshift studio the same day near the former ERT offices in Athens in order to continue providing EBU members with the news-gathering and broadcast relay services which had formerly been provided by ERT.[14] The EBU put out a statement expressing its "profound dismay" at the shutdown, urging the Greek Prime Minister "to use all his powers to immediately reverse this decision" and offered the "advice, assistance and expertise necessary for ERT to be preserved".[15] Starting on 4 May 2014, the new state broadcaster New Hellenic Radio, Internet and Television (NERIT) began nationwide transmissions, taking over ERT's vacant active membership slot in the EBU.[16] On 11 June 2015, two years after ERT's closure, NERIT was renamed as Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT),[17][18] which reopened with a comprehensive program in all radio stations (with nineteen regional, two world-range and five pan-Hellenic range radio stations) and three TV channels ERT1, ERT2 and ERT3.

Belarusian state broadcaster (2021)

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The Belarusian Television and Radio Company (BTRC) has been accused of repressing its own employees, having fired more than 100 people since a wave of anti-Lukashenko protests in 2020 following alleged election fraud. Many of them have also been jailed. Many voices have been raised against the participation of Belarus and the BTRC in the otherwise unpolitical Eurovision Song Contest in 2021, the argument being that the EBU would make a political statement if it did endorse Belarus by essentially and silently saying that democracy is unimportant and so are basic human rights such as freedom of speech.[19]

On 28 May 2021, the EBU suspended the BTRC's membership as they had been "particularly alarmed by the broadcast of interviews apparently obtained under duress". BTRC was given two weeks to respond before the suspension came into effect, but did not do so publicly.[20] The suspension of the broadcaster was made effective on 1 July 2021.[21][22] Although initial reports mentioned that it would expire after three years, in April 2024 the EBU confirmed that the suspension had been made indefinite.[23]

Russian state broadcasters (2022)

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The three Russian members of the EBU, Channel One Russia, VGTRK, and Radio Dom Ostankino are all controlled by the Russian government.[24] On 21 February 2022, the Russian government recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, disputed territories that are internationally recognized as part of Ukraine. Ukraine's public broadcaster Suspilne called on the EBU to terminate the membership of Channel One Russia and VGTRK, and to consider preventing Russia from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, citing the Russian government's use of both outlets to spread disinformation surrounding the Russo-Ukrainian war.[25] Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several other public broadcasters joined UA:PBC in calling for Russia's exclusion from the 2022 Contest; Finland's Yle and Estonia's ERR stated that they would not send a representative if Russia was allowed to participate.[26][27] After initially stating that both Russia and Ukraine would be allowed to compete,[28] the EBU announced on 25 February 2022 that it would ban Russia from participating in the Contest.[29]

The three Russian broadcasters announced, via a statement released by Russian state media, that they would withdraw from the EBU on 26 February, citing increased politicization of the organization.[30] The EBU released a statement saying that it was aware of the reports, but that it had not received any formal confirmation.[31] On 1 March, a further statement from the EBU announced that it had suspended its Russian members from its governance structures.[32] On 26 May, the EBU made effective the suspension of its Russian members indefinitely.[33][34]

In 2023, an extensive investigation by the EBU Investigative Journalism Network uncovered evidence of a Kremlin-sponsored initiative to take Ukrainian children from the war-torn country to Russia, a war crime under international law.[35]

Members

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As of June 2024 , the list of EBU members comprises the following 77 broadcasting companies from 56 countries.[2]

Current members

[edit]

Country Broadcasting organisation Abbr. Year Albania Albanian Radio-Television (Radio Televizioni Shqiptar) RTSH 1999 Algeria Public Establishment of Television (المؤسّسة العمومية للتلفزيون, Établissement public de télévision) EPTV 1970 National Sound Broadcasting Company (المؤسسة العمومية للبث الإذاعي, Entreprise nationale de radiodiffusion sonore) ENRS Algerian Broadcasting Company (البث الإذاعي والتلفزي الجزائري, Télédiffusion d'Algérie) TDA Andorra Radio and Television of Andorra (Ràdio i Televisió d'Andorra) RTVA 2002 Armenia Public Television Company of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրային Հեռուստաընկերություն, Hayastani Hanrayin Herrustaynkerut'yun) ARMTV

ՀՀՀ 2005 Public Radio of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրային Ռադիո, Hayastani Hanrayin Radio) ARMR Austria Österreichischer Rundfunk ORF 1953 Azerbaijan İctimai Televiziya və Radio Yayımları Şirkəti:

İctimai Televiziya (İctimai Television, İTV)

İctimai Radio (İR)

İCTI/İTV 2007 Belgium Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie VRT 1950 Radio-Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française RTBF Bosnia and Herzegovina Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosanskohercegovačka radiotelevizija) BHRT 1993 Bulgaria Bulgarian National Radio (Българско национално радио, Bǎlgarsko nacionalno radio) BNR

БНР 1993 Bulgarian National Television (Българска национална телевизия, Balgarska natsionalna televizia) BNT

БНТ Croatia Croatian Radiotelevision (Hrvatska radiotelevizija) HRT 1993 Cyprus Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (Ραδιοφωνικό Ίδρυμα Κύπρου, Radiofonikó Ídryma Kýprou, Kıbrıs Radyo Yayın Kurumu) CyBC

ΡΊΚ

RKYK 1969 Czechia Český rozhlas ČRo 1993 Česká televize ČT Denmark Danmarks Radio DR 1950 TV2 Danmark DK/TV2 1989 Egypt National Media Authority (الهيئة الوطنية للإعلام) NTU 1985 Estonia Eesti Rahvusringhääling:

Eesti Raadio (ER)

Eesti Televisioon (ETV)

ERR 1993 Finland Yleisradio (Rundradion) Yle 1950 France Groupe de Radiodiffusion Française:

France Télévisions (FTV)

Radio France (RF)

France Médias Monde (FMM)

GRF 1950 Georgia Georgian Public Broadcaster (საქართველოს საზოგადოებრივი მაუწყებელი, sakartvelos sazogadoebrivi mauts'q'ebeli) GPB

სსმ 2005 Germany Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (The Working Group of Public Broadcasters in the Federal Republic of Germany, ARD):

Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Broadcasting: BR)

Hessischer Rundfunk (Hessian Broadcasting: HR)

Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (Central German Broadcasting: MDR)

Norddeutscher Rundfunk (Northern German Broadcasting: NDR)

Radio Bremen (RB)

Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcasting: RBB)

Saarländischer Rundfunk (Saarland Broadcasting: SR)

Südwestrundfunk (Southwest Broadcasting: SWR)

Westdeutscher Rundfunk (West German Broadcasting: WDR)

Deutsche Welle (German Wave: DW)

Deutschlandradio (Radio Germany: DLR)

ARD 1952 Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (Second German Television) ZDF 1963 Greece Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (Ελληνική Ραδιοφωνία Τηλεόραση, Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi) ERT 1950–2013,

2015 Hungary Médiaszolgáltatás-támogató és Vagyonkezelő Alap (Media Support and Asset Management Fund):

Duna Médiaszolgáltató (Duna Media Service Provider)

MTVA 2014 Iceland Ríkisútvarpið RÚV 1956 Ireland Raidió Teilifís Éireann RTÉ 1950 TG4 TG4 2007 Israel Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (תַּאֲגִיד הַשִׁיְדּוּר הַיִשְׂרָאֵלִי, Taʾăḡid HaŠidûr HaYiśrāʾēli) (هَيْئَة اَلْبَثّ اَلْإِسْرَائِيلي, Hayʾat al-Baṯṯ al-Isrāʾīlī) KAN 2017 Italy RAI – Radiotelevisione Italiana RAI 1950 Jordan Jordan Radio and Television Corporation (مؤسسة الإذاعة والتلفزيون الأردني) JRTV 1970 Latvia Public Broadcasting of Latvia (Latvijas Sabiedriskie mediji):

Latvijas Televīzija (LTV)

Latvijas Radio (LR)

LSM 1993 Lebanon Télé Liban (تلفزيون لبنان) TL 1950 Libya Libya National Channel (قناة ليبيا الوطنية) LNC 2011 Lithuania Lithuanian National Radio and Television (Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija) LRT 1993 Luxembourg RTL Group RTL 1950 Établissement de Radiodiffusion Socioculturelle du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ERSL 1996 Malta Public Broadcasting Services PBS 1970 Moldova Compania Națională "Teleradio-Moldova" TRM 1993 Monaco Monaco Media Diffusion MMD 1994 TVMonaco TVM 2024 Montenegro Radio i televizija Crne Gore (Радио и телевизија Црне Горе) RTCG

РТЦГ 2006 Morocco Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision (الشَرِكَة الوَطَنِيَّة لِلْإِذَاعَة وَالتَلْفَزَة, ⵜⴰⵎⵙⵙⵓⵔⵜ ⵜⴰⵏⴰⵎⵓⵔⵜ ⵏ ⵓⵏⵣⵡⴰⵢ ⴷ ⵜⵉⵍⵉⴼⵉⵣⵢⵓⵏ) SNRT 1950 Netherlands Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (Dutch Public Broadcaster):

AVROTROS

BNNVARA

Evangelische Omroep (Evangelical Broadcasting: EO)

Humanistische Omroep (Humanist Broadcasting: HUMAN)

KRO-NCRV

MAX

Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (Dutch Broadcasting Foundation: NOS)

NTR

Ongehoord Nederland [nl] (Unheard Netherlands: ON)

PowNed

Stichting Ether Reclame (Foundation for Ether Advertisement: STER)

VPRO

WNL

Omroep Zwart (Broadcaster Black)

NPO 1950 North Macedonia Macedonian Radio Television (Македонска Радио Телевизиjа, Makedonska radio televizija) MRT

МРТ 1993 Norway Norsk Rikskringkasting NRK 1950 TV 2 Group (TV 2 Gruppen) NO/TV2 1993 Poland Telewizja Polska TVP 1993 Polskie Radio PR Portugal Rádio e Televisão de Portugal RTP 1950 Romania Societatea Română de Radiodifuziune ROR 1993 Societatea Română de Televiziune RO/TVR San Marino San Marino RTV SMRTV 1995 Serbia Radio-televizija Srbije (Радио-телевизија Србије) RTS 2006 Slovakia Slovak Television and Radio (Slovenská televízia a rozhlas) STVR 2024 Slovenia Radiotelevizija Slovenija RTVSLO 1993 Spain Radiotelevisión Española RTVE 1955 Sweden Sveriges Rundradiotjänst:

Sveriges Television (SVT)

Sveriges Radio (SR)

Sveriges Utbildningsradio (UR)

SRT 1950 Switzerland Swiss Broadcasting Corporation:

Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF)

Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS)

Radiotelevisione svizzera (RSI)

Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha (RTR)

SRG SSR 1950 Tunisia Établissement de la Radio Tunisienne (مؤسسة الإذاعة التونسية) RTT 2007 Établissement de la Télévision Tunisienne (مؤسسة التلفزة التونسية) Turkey Türkiye Radyo ve Televizyon Kurumu TRT 1950 Ukraine National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (Національна суспільна телерадіокомпанія України, Natsionalna Suspilna Teleradiokompaniya Ukrayiny) SU 1993 United Kingdom British Broadcasting Corporation BBC 1950 United Kingdom Independent Broadcasting:

ITV plc (UKIB/ITV)

STV Group (UKIB/STV)

Channel Four Television Corporation (UKIB/C4)

S4C Authority (UKIB/S4C)

UKIB 1981 Vatican City Vatican Radio (Radio Vaticana, Statio Radiophonica Vaticana) VR 1950

Suspended members

[edit]

Country Broadcasting organisation Abbr. Year Suspended Belarus National State TV and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus BTRC 1993 2021[23] Russia Channel One Russia C1R 1995 2022[36][37] All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company VGTRK 1993 Radio Dom Ostankino:

Radio Mayak (MK)

Radio Orpheus (OP)

RDO 1996

Past members

[edit]

Country Broadcasting organisation Abbr. From To Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Television (Československá televize) ČST 1991[38] 1992[a] Finland MTV3 FI/MTV 1993 2019[39] France Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française RTF 1950 1964 Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française ORTF 1964 1975 Télédiffusion de France TDF 1975 1982 TF1 TF1 1975 2018 Europe 1 E1 1978 2022 Organisme Français de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision OFRT 1983 1992[b] Canal+ C+ 1984 2018 Greece New Hellenic Radio, Internet and Television (Νέα Ελληνική Ραδιοφωνία, Ίντερνετ και Τηλεόραση, Néa Ellinikí Radiofonía, Ínternet kai Tileórasi) NERIT 2014 2015[c] Hungary Duna TV Duna 2013 2015[d] Magyar Rádió MR 1993 Magyar Televízió MTV Israel Israel Broadcasting Authority (רָשׁוּת השִּׁדּוּר, Rashút HaShidúr) IBA 1957 2017[e] Libya Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting Corporation (الجماهيرية اللّيبيّة) LJBC 1974 2011 Malta Maltese Broadcasting Authority MBA 1970 2003 Monaco Groupement de Radiodiffuseurs Monégasques:

Radio Monte Carlo (RMC)

Télé Monte-Carlo (TMC)

GRMC 1950 2021 Telemontecarlo (now La7) TMC 1981 2001 Russia Channel One Ostankino [ru] (Первый канал Останкино) C1O 1994 1995[f] Serbia and Montenegro Udruženje javnih radija i televizija (Alliance of Public Radio and Television) UJRT 2001 2006[g] Slovakia Slovenský rozhlas SRo 1993 2011[h] Slovenská televízia STV Radio and Television of Slovakia (Rozhlas a televízia Slovenska) RTVS 2011 2024[i] Spain Antena 3 Radio A3R 1986 1993 Radio Popular SA COPE COPE 1998 2019[40] Sociedad Española de Radiodifusión SER 1982 2020 Sweden TV4 SE/TV4 2004 2019[41] Tunisia Établissement de la radiodiffusion-télévision tunisienne (Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment) ERTT 1990 2007[j] United Kingdom Independent Television Authority ITA 1959 1972 Independent Television Companies Association ITCA 1959 1981 Independent Broadcasting Authority IBA 1972 1981[k] Commercial Radio Companies Association (now Radiocentre) CRCA 1981[l] 2006 Yugoslavia Yugoslav Radio Television (Југослoвенска радиотелевизија, Jugoslavenska radiotelevizija) JRT 1950 1992

Associate members

[edit]

Any group or organisation from an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) member country, which provides a radio or television service outside of the European Broadcasting Area, is permitted to submit applications to the EBU for Associate Membership.[43]

It is also noted by the EBU that any country that is granted Associate Member status does not gain access into Eurovision events[3] with the notable exceptions of Australia, who have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest since 2015, Canada in Eurovision Young Dancers between 1987 and 1989 and Kazakhstan, who have participated in Junior Eurovision since 2018, all of which were individually invited.

The list of Associate Members of EBU comprised the following 31 broadcasting companies from 20 countries as of December 2023 .[3]

Country Broadcasting organisation Abbr. Year Australia Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC 1950 FreeTV Australia Free 1962 Special Broadcasting Service SBS 1979 Bangladesh National Broadcasting Authority of Bangladesh NBAB 1974 Brazil TV Cultura (Fundação Padre Anchieta) FPA 2012 Canada Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Société Radio-Canada) CBC 1950 Chile Canal 13 C13 1971 China China Media Group (中央广播电视总台) CMG 2010 Shanghai Media Group (上海文化廣播影視集團有限公司) SMG 2016 Cuba Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión) ICRT 1992 Georgia Teleimedi TEME 2004 Rustavi 2 (რუსთავი 2) RB 2003 Hong Kong Radio Television Hong Kong (香港電台) RTHK 1983 Iran Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (صدا و سيمای جمهوری اسلامی ايران) IRIB 1968 Japan Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (日本放送協会) NHK 1951 TBS Holdings (TBSホールディングス) TBS 2000 Kazakhstan Khabar Agency ("Хабар" Агенттігі, Агентство «Хабар») KA 2016 Malaysia Radio Television of Malaysia (Radio Televisyen Malaysia, راديو تيليۏيشن مليسيا) RTM 1970 Mauritius Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation MBC 1980 Nepal Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Nepal ACORAB 2023 New Zealand Radio New Zealand (Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa) RNZ 1950 Television New Zealand (Te Reo Tātaki o Aotearoa) TVNZ 1980 Oman Public Authority for Radio and TV of Oman PART 1976 South Korea Korean Broadcasting System (한국방송공사) KBS 1974 Syria General Organization of Radio and TV

(Organisation de la Radio-Télévision Arabe Syrienne, الهيئة العامة للإذاعة والتلفزيون – سورية) ORTAS 1978 United States American Broadcasting Company ABC 1959 American Public Media APM 2004 Columbia Broadcasting System CBS 1956 National Public Radio NPR 1971 National Broadcasting Company NBC 1953 WFMT Radio Network WFMT 1980

Past associate members

[edit]

The list of past associate members of EBU comprises the following 94 broadcasting companies from 55 countries and 1 autonomous territory.[44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57]

Country Broadcasting organisation Abbr. From To Argentina Canal 7 C7 1970 El Trece C13 1973 Australia Australian Fine Music Network AFMN 2008 2010 Bahamas Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas BCB 1975 Barbados Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation BB/CBC 1971 2005 Benin Radiodiffusion du Dahomey RD 1975 Brazil Associação Brasileira das Emissoras de Rádio e Televisão ABERT Diários Associados DA Emissoras Unidas de Rádio e Televisão [pt] EURT 1969 TV Globo GLOBO 1970 Network of Independent Broadcasters (Rede de Emissoras Independentes) REI 1974 1975 Rádio Nacional RN 1974 1975 Canada CTV Television Network CTV 1969 Agency for Tele-Education in Canada ATEC 1975 1981 Chad Chadian National Radio (Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne) RNT 1974 Chile Televisión Nacional de Chile TVN 1970 Colombia Instituto Nacional de Radio y Televisión IRV 1970 Congo Radiodiffusion Télévision Congolaise RTC 1974 Costa Rica Telesistema Nacional S.R.L. TSN 1969 1971 Ecuador Teleamazonas 4TA 1975 Gabon Radiodiffusion-Télévision Gabonaise RTG Gambia Gambia Radio & Television Service GRTS 2010 Ghana Ghana Broadcasting Corporation GBC Greenland Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation) KNR 1978 2011 Guyana Guyana Broadcasting Service GBS 1977 Haiti Service des Télécommunications 1969 Honduras Televisora de Honduras, S.A. TH 1969 1971 Hong Kong Asia Television (亞洲電視有限公司) ATV 2010 Television Broadcasts Limited TVB 1973 2012/2013 India All India Radio AIR 1979 2021 Indonesia Radio Republik Indonesia RRI 1973 1981 Televisi Republik Indonesia TVRI 1973 1981 Iraq Iraqi Broadcasting and Television Establishment IBTE Ivory Coast Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirienne RTI Jamaica Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation JBC 1970 1981 Japan Mainichi Broadcasting System (株式会社毎日放送, Kabushiki-gaisha Mainichi Hōsō) MBS 1970 TV Asahi ANB 2009 Fuji Television FTN 1969 2012/2013 National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan NACB 2012/2013 Nippon Television Network Corporation (日本テレビ放送網株式会社, Nihon Terebi Hōsōmō kabushiki gaisha) NTV 2009 Tokyo FM TFM 1986 2021 Kenya The Voice of Kenya VK Kuwait Kuwait Broadcasting and Television Service KBTS 1970 Liberia Liberian Broadcasting Corporation LBC 1981 Madagascar Radiodiffusion-Télévision de Madagascar RTM 1971 Malawi Malawi Broadcasting Corporation MBC Mauritania Television of Mauritania MR/TVM 2003 2013 Mexico Telesistema Mexicano TSM 1973 Televisión Independiente de México (Mexican Independent Television) TIM 1969 1973 Tele-Cadena Mexicana TCM 1969 1973 Televisa SA de CV TVA 1973 2005 Corporación Mexicana de Radio y Televisión CMRT 1973 Nepal Nepal Television (नेपाल टेलिभिजन) NTVC 2010 Niger Office de radiodiffusion et Télévision du Niger ORTN 1981 Nigeria Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation NBC Pakistan Radio Pakistan (ریڈیو پاکستان) RP 1974 Pakistan Television Corporation (پاکستان ٹیلی وژن نیٹ ورک) PK/PTV 1971 2010 Palestine Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (هيئة الإذاعة والتلفزيون الفلسطينية) PBC 2002 2014 Papua New Guinea National Broadcasting Corporation NBC 1977 Peru Teledos T2 1969 1971 Compañía Peruana de Radiodifusión AMÉRICA 1969 Panamericana Televisión PANTEL 1969 Qatar Qatar Television and Broadcasting Service QTBC 1973 Al Jazeera Children's Channel JCC 2008 2013 Qatar Radio (إذاعة قطر) QR 2009 2009 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian Broadcasting and Television Service SABTVS Senegal Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise RTS 1973 2006 Sri Lanka Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation CBC 1973 Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (ශ්‍රී ලංකා ගුවන් විදුලි සංස්ථාව, Shrī Lankā Guvan Viduli Sansthāva) (இலங்கை ஒலிபரப்புக் கூட்டுத்தாபனம், Ilangkai Oliparappuk Kūṭṭuttāpaṉam) SLBC 2007 2010 South Africa South African Broadcasting Corporation SABC 1951 2022 South Korea Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (주식회사문화방송) MBC 2009 Sudan Sudan Television Service STS 1976 Tanzania Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation TBC United Arab Emirates Emirates Media Inc. EMI 2006 United Arab Emirates Radio And Television – Dubai UAERTVD 2006 United States National Association of Educational Broadcasters NAEB 1981 Time Life Television TIME 1970 United States Information Agency USIA National Educational Television NET 1970 Educational Broadcasting Corporation EBC 1971 Corporation for Public Broadcasting CPB 1972 Cable News Network CNN International Broadcasting Bureau IBB 2007 Minnesota Public Radio MPR 2004 2007 New York Public Radio NYPR 2012 2016 WGBH Educational Foundation WGBH 2014 2014 Upper Volta Radiodiffusion-Télévision Voltaïque RTV 1981 Uruguay Sociedad Televisora Larrañaga (Tele 12) C12 1970 1976 Venezuela Teleinversiones S.A. 1969 1970 Corporación Venezolana de Televisión VV 1973 Radio Caracas Televisión RCTV 2010 Radio Caracas Radio RCR 2010 Zaire La Voix du Zaïre VZ Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation ZBC 2010

Approved participant members

[edit]

Any groups or organisations from a country with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) membership, which does not qualify for either the EBU's Active or Associate memberships, but still provide a broadcasting activity for the EBU, are granted a unique Approved Participants membership, which lasts approximately five years. An application for this status may be submitted to the EBU at any given time, providing an annual fee is paid.[58]

The following seven EBU broadcast members had status as Approved Participants in June 2024.[59]

Broadcasting Organisation Abbr. Arte ARTE Catalunya Música CAT Euronews EURONEWS JP Makedonska Radiodifuzija JP MRD Cellnex CELLNEX Radio Television of Vojvodina RTV TV5Monde TV5

The following members previously had status as Approved Participants.[45][44]

Broadcasting Organisation Abbr. Antenna Hungária [hu] AH Abertis Telecom S.A. ABERTIS International Radio and Television Union (Université radiophonique et télévisuelle internationale) URTI MBC Limited – Middle East Broadcasting Centre MEBC Retevisión RETE Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network RTRN Sentech SNTC

Organised events

[edit]

The EBU in co-operation with the respective host broadcaster organises competitions and events in which its members can participate if they wish to do so. These include:

Eurovision Song Contest

[edit]

Main article: Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest (French: Concours Eurovision de la chanson)[60] is an annual international song competition between EBU members, that was first held in Lugano, Switzerland, on 24 May 1956. Seven countries participated – each submitting two songs, for a total of 14. This was the only contest in which more than one song per country was performed: since 1957, all contests have allowed one entry per country. The 1956 contest was won by the host nation, Switzerland.[61] The most recent host city was Malmö, Sweden, where Switzerland won the competition.

Let the Peoples Sing

[edit]

Main article: Let the Peoples Sing

Let the Peoples Sing is a biennial choir competition, the participants of which are chosen from radio recordings entered by EBU radio members. The final, encompassing three categories and around ten choirs, is offered as a live broadcast to all EBU members. The overall winner is awarded the Silver Rose Bowl.

Jeux sans frontières

[edit]

Main article: Jeux sans frontières

Jeux sans frontières (English: Games without frontiers, or Games Without Borders) was a Europe-wide television game show. In its original conception, it was broadcast from 1965 to 1999 under the auspices of the EBU. The original series' run ended in 1982, but was revived in 1988 with a different composition of nations and was hosted by smaller broadcasters.

Eurovision Young Musicians

[edit]

Main article: Eurovision Young Musicians

Eurovision Young Musicians is a competition for European musicians that are between the ages of 12 and 21 years old. It is organised by the EBU and is a member of EMCY. The first competition was held in Manchester, United Kingdom on 11 May 1982.

The televised competition is held every two years, with some countries holding national heats. Since its inaugural edition in 1982, it has become one of the most important music competitions on an international level.

Eurovision Young Dancers

[edit]

Main article: Eurovision Young Dancers

Eurovision Young Dancers was a biennial dance showcase broadcast on television throughout Europe. The first competition was held in Reggio Emilia, Italy on 16 June 1985.

It uses a format similar to the Eurovision Song Contest. Every participating country has the opportunity to send a dance act to compete for the title of "Eurovision Young Dancer". The competition is for solo dancers, and all contestants must be between the ages of 16 and 21, and not professionally engaged.

Euroclassic Notturno

[edit]

Main article: Euroclassic Notturno

Euroclassic Notturno is a six-hour sequence of classical music recordings, assembled by BBC Radio from material supplied by EBU members and streamed back to those broadcasters by satellite for use in their overnight classical-music schedules. The recordings used are taken not from commercial CDs, but from earlier (usually live) radio broadcasts.[62][63]

Junior Eurovision Song Contest

[edit]

Main article: Junior Eurovision Song Contest

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest (French: Concours Eurovision de la Chanson Junior)[64] is an annual international song competition that was first held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 15 November 2003. Sixteen countries participated in the inaugural edition, with each submitting one song, for a total of 16 entries. The inaugural contest was won by Croatia. The winner of the most recent contest, which took place in Nice, France, is France.[65]

Eurovision Dance Contest

[edit]

Main article: Eurovision Dance Contest

The Eurovision Dance Contest (not to be confused with the Eurovision Young Dancers Competition) was an international dancing competition that was held for the first time in London, United Kingdom, on 1 September 2007. The competition was repeated in 2008 when it was held in Glasgow, United Kingdom, but has not been held since.

Eurovision Magic Circus Show

[edit]

Main article: Magic Circus Show

The Eurovision Magic Circus Show was an entertainment show organised by the EBU, which took place in 2010, 2011 and 2012 in Geneva. Children aged between 7–14 representing eight countries within the EBU membership area performed a variety of circus acts at the Geneva Christmas Circus (French: Cirque de Noël Genève). The main show was also accompanied by the Magic Circus Show Orchestra.[66]

Eurovision Choir

[edit]

Main article: Eurovision Choir

The inaugural Eurovision Choir, featuring non-professional choirs selected by EBU members, took place on 22 July 2017 in Riga, hosted by the Latvian broadcaster Latvijas Televīzija (LTV). Nine countries took part in the first edition. Carmen Manet from Slovenia was the first winner.

European Sports Championships

[edit]

Main article: European Championships (multi-sport event)

The European Sports Championships is a multi-sport event involving some of the leading sports in Europe. The European Governing Bodies for athletics, aquatics, cycling, rowing, golf, gymnastics and triathlon, coordinated their individual championships as part of the first edition[67] in the summer of 2018, hosted by the cities of Berlin (already chosen as the host for the 2018 European Athletics Championships) and Glasgow (already chosen as the host for the 2018 European Aquatics Championships, and which concurrently also hosted the events of the other sports).[68][69]

See also

[edit]

African Union of Broadcasting

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union

Caribbean Broadcasting Union

Commonwealth Broadcasting Association

Commonwealth Press Union

Europe by Satellite

International Telecommunication Union

North American Broadcasters Association

Organización de Telecomunicaciones de Iberoamérica

Public Broadcasting System

Notes

[edit]

References

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