European broadcasting union (EBU)

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), based in Geneva, is the world's largest association of broadcasters. It has 74 broadcasters from 54 countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In addition to these full members, there are another 48 associate members from 28 countries. Full members include all national broadcasters.

The EBU was founded in 1950 by Western European broadcasters and united with OIRT, its Eastern European counterpart, in 1993.

For its European members, the EBU negotiates broadcasting rights for major sporting events, operates Eurovision and the Euroradio network, organizes program changes, coordinates co-productions in other languages, and provides full support for operations and services, technology and broadcasting rights.

Among the EBU's best-known services is Eurovision. The Eurovision network consists of about 50 digital television channels for news and programs broadcast via Eutelsat 's communications satellites. Television broadcasts include educational programs, documentaries, co-productions, animated series, competitions for artists and dancers, and light music, such as the Eurovision Song Contest. In broadcasting, Euroradio, it is as much about sports and news programs, concerts and operas broadcast over the radio network.

In addition to these services, the EBU stands for modern technology and new transmission media, to which it contributes its technical input. Examples include digital TV, digital radio, digital audio broadcasting( DAB), HDTV and radio data system( RDS).