EBU Head of Entertainment, Fiction & Arts, Bettina Brinkmann attended the INPUT annual international conference  for public broadcasting screenings, in Seoul.

The conference, from 9-12 May, was held under the theme "Television in the Public Interest". And Bettina took part in a special session called "EBU meets ABU in Format".

Takeshi Doki, director of the ABU Programme Department, presented the Asian case during the session, which brought the EBU and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) closer in the TV format sector.

Asian formats are increasingly being exported, stimulating European broadcasters' interest in this growing market, resulting in synergies between the two markets. 

The special session explored the most successful TV formats in Europe and Asia, including the EBU's "Eurovision Creative Forum 2010".

The "EBU meets ABU in Format" session examined:

• Future of formats involving social media networks and interactivity
• Case studies of strong Korean entertainment TV programmes 
• How successful formats reflect narrative development, interaction and the degree of format specification
• How to minimize risks and build on successes in format development
• Ways to link younger audiences to new, public service television formats