EBU Technical Review : No. 255 (Spring 1993)
The turn of the year heralded a new era for the EBU.
On January 1st 1993, the reintegration of the Members of the OIRT into the EBU family took place. At the same time events in the Balkan region have resulted in the creation of new autonomous political entities and, as a consequence, new Members for the EBU. It is appropriate that in this, the first issue of the EBU Technical Review in 1993, we should acknowledge and, indeed, celebrate this event.
The EBU now consists of 60 Active Members from 47 countries and some 54 Associate Members in 32 countries throughout the world. We heartily welcome our new Members from Central and Eastern Europe, from the Baltic and the Balkan regions.
Although the relationship between the OIRT and the EBU has always been cordial and active, especially in the technical field, the synergy produced by our much closer cooperation must lead to a stronger Union, more capable of facing the challenges of tomorrow.
Unrelenting advances in technology have presented the global broadcasting community with unprecedented challenges in both radio and television. The many options now presented require very careful consideration and great foresight. In an ideal world these options would be considered, and the appropriate selections made on a global basis, so that the countries of the world could move forward in unison using common systems and standards. This would greatly simplify our task and make the developing broadcasting systems more accessible to everyone.
Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world and the opportunities for achieving common world-wide standards are no greater now than they were in past decades. Whilst we may have to recognise, and adapt to, the impracticalities of true world-wide standardization, we do, at least, have the opportunity to achieve common regional standards and in this respect our enlarged Union can play a major rôle.
In broadcasting there is a mutual dependence between the consumer electronics industry and broadcasters. Through our various liaison groups within the industry we have established close cooperation which leads to common goals. This relationship is even more important today as the extended Europe now constitutes the world's largest market-place for radio and television programme services and, of course, for the radio and television sets which make them receivable.
The one technology which will most shape our future is digital technology. Digital Audio Broadcasting and Digital Television will be the predominant delivery systems of the next millennium. It is extremely important that the correct options be selected so that our future programme services will stand the test of time; they must be available to future generations without the need for successive equipment changes in order to keep abreast of technology.
Technological change, of course, will not cease and we must continue to encourage developments. But as far as possible we should do this in a consistent manner and avoid successive periods of obsolescence. Technological forecasting has always been difficult but in today's world it is both more difficult and more essential. Within the next year, basic and far-reaching decisions will be made with regard to digital systems. The future of the EBU's Members will be profoundly affected by these decisions so we must exercise our right – indeed, our obligation – to influence the decision-making process.
Our increased strength as a Union, both in numbers and wisdom, makes us more capable of action in this field.
However, our preoccupation with the technological challenges of the immediate and longer-term future must not cause the EBU, or its long-established Members, to leave our new Members to fend entirely for themselves. If the Western European broadcasters' problems are difficult, those of many of our new Members must be classified as severe.
Conscious of their difficulties, and of the expectations of these Members who are counting on the Union's spirit of collaboration and solidarity to facilitate their integration within the "club", the Union is undertaking several important initiatives. Some of these are of a direct practical nature, such as the loan guarantee given by the EBU for the financing of earth stations by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This will allow the rapid linking of several major Central and Eastern European cities and, by extension, whole regions or nations, into the Eurovision network.
Other initiatives, for example those relating to training, may take longer to mature. But here too the EBU is very active both as an organizer of opportunities within its own infrastructure and as a link between broadcasters and other bodies offering services within the wider context of European collaboration, exemplified by various schemes of the European Communities.
Communication is an important element of any collaborative venture. In the technical domain, the principal channel for communication within the EBU and between its Members world-wide, is the EBU Technical Committee and its five Working Parties. In support of this extensive committee activity – in which we heartily encourage all our new Members to participate – we have the EBU Technical Review. The Review is the Union's standard-bearer, a rallying point for the Members and a signal to the rest of the broadcasting and telecommunications industry that the EBU represents the interests of all its Members in every domain where concerted action is desirable and appropriate. The Review is also making a practical contribution to our efforts to welcome our new Members, with a series of articles outlining the recent achievements and current objectives of the EBU Technical Working Parties.
It is clear that at the start of this new era in European broadcasting we have greater need than ever before for the active participation and constructive collaboration of all our Members. The challenges are numerous and complex. Our fund of expertise and goodwill is, I believe, without limit.
European Broadcasting Union
