European Broadcasting Union

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), known in French as L'Union Européenne de Radio-Télévision (UER), and unrelated to the European Union, was formed February 12, 1950 by 23 broadcasting organizations from Europe and the Mediterranean at a conference in the coastal resort of Torquay in Devon, England. In 1993, the International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT), an equivalent organisation of broadcasters from Central and Eastern Europe, was merged with the EBU.

Related Topics:
French - European Union - February 12 - 1950 - Europe - Mediterranean - Torquay - Devon - England - 1993 - International Radio and Television Organisation

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As of 2004, the EBU has active full members from 52 countries, and associate members from a further 29. Members are radio and television companies, most of which are government-owned public service broadcasters or privately owned stations with public missions. Full active Members are based in countries from Algeria to the Vatican State, including almost all European countries. Associate members are not limited to those from European countries and the Mediterranean but include broadcasters from Canada, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, India and Hong Kong, as well as many others. Associate Members from the United States include ABC, CBS, NBC, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Time Warner.

Related Topics:
As of 2004 - Public service broadcasters - Canada - Japan - Mexico - Brazil - India - Hong Kong - United States - ABC - CBS - NBC - Corporation for Public Broadcasting - Time Warner

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The EBU's most well-known production is probably the Eurovision Song Contest organised by its Eurovision Network. The ability of any country from which there are full members of the EBU to enter this contest leads both to the ever growing number of entries, and the counter-intuitive inclusion of countries, such as Israel, which are clearly not generally considered part of Europe. The Eurovision Network also organises the Eurovision Young Dancers competition, which is modelled along similar lines.

Related Topics:
Eurovision Song Contest - Eurovision Network - Eurovision Young Dancers

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The countries in the EBU have also often worked together to create documentaries and (animated) children's programming. The first such co-production was the animated series The Animals of Farthing Wood from the year 1993 based on the books of the same title by Colin Dann.

Related Topics:
The Animals of Farthing Wood - 1993 - Colin Dann

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One other well-known production is Wetten, dass..?, a entertainment show made by ZDF, ORF and SF-DRS. Participating countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Tyrol parts of Italy who are German-speaking. "Wetten, dass..?" is Europe's most popular family entertainment for nearly 30 years, hosted by Thomas Gottschalk. The show was aired from Aspendos (amphitheater), Paris (EuroDisney), Majorca and Xanten (Germany) and several other German, Austrian and Swiss cities.

Related Topics:
Wetten, dass..? - ZDF - ORF - SF-DRS - Thomas Gottschalk - Aspendos - Paris - Majorca - Xanten

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Former host, Frank Elstner, had a chance to broadcast John Paul II by video connection and not live, but Elstner refused.

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There are other versions world-wide from China, Russia, Turkey.

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The theme music played before EBU broadcasts, is Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Prelude to Te Deum. It is well known to europeans as played before and after the Eurovision Song Contest.

Related Topics:
Marc-Antoine Charpentier - Te Deum - Eurovision Song Contest

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