Eurovision Song Contest: Who is the EBU?
68 public broadcasters from 56 countries are members of the Geneva-based organization, which conducts event broadcasts and rights acquisitions as well as market research. The Eurovision fanfare of the EBU, known from Charpentier's "Te Deum," is an integral part of the Eurovision Song Contest, which the organization has been hosting since 1956. Eligible to participate are broadcasters that are members of the EBU, which is why non-European countries like Israel or Azerbaijan regularly participate in the ESC.
Success Story of the EBU Began in 1950
The EBU dates back to 1950, when the first international television connection was established between Great Britain and France. Shortly thereafter, the term "Eurovision" was introduced, which still characterizes cross-border collaboration today. In 1953, the celebrations for the coronation of Elizabeth II reached around 20 million TV viewers in Great Britain, Belgium, France, Holland, and Germany. The following year, 44 broadcasters in eight countries showed the Narcissus Festival from Montreux.
In 1955, the starting signal was finally given for the world's largest singing competition: EBU Director Marcel Bezencon presented the concept of a Song Contest, which was to take place for the first time in Lugano, Switzerland, on May 24 of the following year. Austria was also among the ten countries that broadcast the event live on television, with seven more radio stations participating when Lys Assia won for Switzerland.
In the following years, the offerings of the EBU, which were made available to members, were expanded: Daily news programs were exchanged, leading to the launch of "Eurovision News" in 1961, theater productions were included, the transmission of the Summer Olympics was handled through the central distribution institution, and a connection to North America was also established. In 1973, the EBU was awarded an International Emmy for its contribution to the television sector - more were to follow.
Euroradio Has Existed Since the 80s
At the end of the 1980s, the EBU became more involved in the radio market and founded Euroradio, analogous to the TV offerings. Steps in the digital sector, concerning transmission technologies and image and sound quality, are being taken. Meanwhile, the organization is also strongly represented on the web with its members, with on-demand video being just one aspect. During the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the EBU was responsible for the rights in 52 countries, across the platforms of TV, radio, and mobile.
Since 2020, the first woman, Delphine Ernotte from France, has been at the helm of the European Broadcasting Union as President, which will have 68 active members by 2025, falling within the EBU's broadcasting area as defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). These must pay an annual contribution, calculated based on their respective operational expenses.
(APA/Red)
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