Geneva 17 December 2010:  TV Lab, the experimental hub for innovative and programme formats created by public broadcaster NPO/Nederland 3 is being expanded by the EBU to EBU Members from all over Europe.

TV Lab presents new television formats in their pilot stage, with TV audience and online viewers voting for their favourite show. The pilot is broadcast and streamed live and then viewers can interact and vote using the internet and social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Bettina Brinkmann, Head of Arts, Entertainment and Fiction at the EBU says “We are excited that viewers will have the chance to vote for their favourite pilot programme using the internet and social media, and to predict future hit programmes. This will not only bring European PSBs closer to their audiences, especially younger audiences, but will also provide the programming that they really want to see.”

Roek Lips , NPO’s Channel Manager and creator of TV Lab in the Netherlands expresses “I hope the future of the Eurovision TV Lab will be all over Europe”.   He continues “TV Lab stands for innovation and interaction.   From one-way to two-way traffic.   TV Lab crosses traditional borders.   Now it will also do so literally.”

TV Lab has already experienced two very successful editions in the Netherlands. The EBU Members joining   this European experiment will bring in one or two pilots free of rights restrictions to the pool of pilots. Whether it is current events, drama, music or chat: all of these shows are being broadcast on TV for the very first time to see whether the new programmes are a hit or not. The EBU will oversee all contributions and take care of the distribution.

The project aims to create a “Eurovision TV Lab Night” in Europe in September 2011. EBU Members can choose the pilots from other countries and introduce them to their domestic audience. All EBU Members will use the same technology to involve the viewers. Social media tools and applications will measure how the pilots work with the audience.

Further Information:

Eurovision TV Lab Night 2011 Information sheet

TV Labs NPO Trailer on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBGEYAJuCo0 

Note to Editors:

* The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) serves 86 national media organizations in 56 countries in and around Europe. It promotes the values and distinctiveness of public service media in Europe and around the world. It brings news, sports, events and music to your home through the Eurovision and Euroradio networks. The EBU develops and shares best practices, media expertise and innovation. It produces and exchanges rich and diverse programmes across all media. 

** Eurovision TV collaboration at the EBU offers its Members a unique platform to exchange programme ideas and best practices resulting in high-quality coproductions in all genres including animation series, music & dance, documentary, science & education, fiction, and of course the annual mega-show, the Eurovision Song Contest.