Third Edition Of The Digital Transformation Initiative Regional Workshop Series Hosted By BNT

EBU Members from South East Europe gathered in Sofia for a regional workshop on Digital Transformation on 21 and 22 November. The event was attended by Members from Bulgaria (Bulgarian National Television and Bulgarian National Radio), Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT), Cyprus (CYBC), Greece (ERT), Kosovo (RTK), Slovenia (RTVSLO), and Serbia (RTS). The majority of the Members in attendance benefited from EBU’s Partnership Programme, which boosts collaboration, strengthens support, and enables all Members to participate in EBU activities.

The workshop was opened by Emil Koshlukov, Director General of BNT, with a speech in which he stressed the importance of Digital Transformation for public service media (PSM) while ensuring that values remain intact.

EBU’s Head of Member Relations for Central and Eastern Europe, Radka Betcheva, spoke on Digital Transformation and Management Reforms, presenting findings and recommendations from the EC project for technical assistance for PSM in the Western Balkans. The first keynote of the workshop, Pierre Bonte, Digital and Innovation Transformation Manager, RTBF, presented RTBF’s wide ranging transformation programme and discussed the challenges of execution.

Workshop participants presented the current state of play for their organizations, with a look at the challenges they are facing. Topics discussed included digitizing archives, exploring digital innovation (such as DAB+, podcasts, and live streams), restructuring their organizations to be more adept to change, and much more.

The second keynote of the workshop focused on a comprehensive company-wide programme designed to address the issue of digital skills in the long term. Thatsanachone Xayachack presented his work as HR leader in RTS (Switzerland). To give an overview of EBU’s T&I department, Bram Tullemans presented the different departmental activities and applied examples that Members can make use of.

Common issues that were identified by Members included changing the mindsets within organizations to be more open to digital change, rethinking the approach to be focused on audiences, and creating a sense of urgency to change within the entire organization. The workshop ended with a discussion that highlighted how Members share many of the same issues, they are not alone in their journeys. All are looking forward to working more closely with the EBU and connecting with Members from the region to share best practices and expertise.  

Venue

Crystal Palace Hotel
Shipka Street 14, 1504 Sofia Center, Sofia, Bulgaria

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