Twelve countries from around the world have shown interest in joining the innovative Eurovision TV Lab during the first production meeting at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).  The deadline for participation is 15 March so EBU Members still have ample opportunity to join the project.

Roek Lips, NPO’s channel manager and creator of the TV Lab in the Netherlands, says, “This first-of-its-kind project will link younger audiences to new public service television formats.”   He adds, “Broadcasters have opened themselves up to innovation and that is a brave thing to do.”

Bettina Brinkmann, Head of Arts, Entertainment & Fiction at the EBU, comments, “The EBU is happy to support this project and sees its potential to connect with the audience in a new way.  The interest and buzz that the project has created is very encouraging.”

The Eurovision TV Lab is a showcase for new innovative programme formats created by public broadcaster NPO/Nederland 3 where it has already been run successfully twice. The EBU supports the new initiative to extend the project to the rest of the world. 

This innovative experimental hub has received strong interest from public service broadcasters from much of Europe and around the world.  EBU Members in Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, UK, Hungary, Georgia and Slovenia are keen to join the adventure which started in the Netherlands.  Outside of Europe, public broadcasters in South Africa, Israel, Japan, Korea are planning to join too. 

Public broadcasters joining the Eurovision TV Lab will contribute at least one pilot programme to a pool, as part of the Eurovision TV Lab Week for one week in September.  Whether current events, drama, music or chat, all these shows will be broadcast on TV for the very first time to see whether the new programmes are a hit or not.  Each broadcaster 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:

The TV Lab blog has just been launched for further conversation and knowledge sharing about the project: www.tvlab.com

TV Lab NPO Trailer on YouTube