Cannes, 3 October – The European Broadcasting Union (EBU*) and the major broadcasters behind Steps International launched Why Poverty?, at Mipcom today, a global media movement that explores why, in the 21st century, a billion people still live in destitution.

Already 40 public service broadcasters from around the world have committed to the project. The EBU's Eurovision TV is supporting the Why Poverty? project, which will unite broadcasters internationally behind a week of programmes and reach a global audience of 500 million. Why Poverty? is produced by Steps International, a non-profit organization comprising EBU Members including BBC (UK), DRTV (Denmark), YLE (Finland), VPRO (Netherlands), SVT (Sweden), and NRK (Norway).

Ingrid Deltenre, EBU Director General, stated:
“For the first time public service media all over the world are joining forces in an unprecedented global media event to draw attention to global poverty, an issue that deserves an urgent solution. The EBU encourages its community of public broadcasters to join this extraordinary collaboration.”

The series comprises eight one-hour documentaries and 30 shorts, a comprehensive online and mobile offer, and an international outreach programme. The global broadcasting launch of the Why Poverty? week is scheduled for 25 November 2012. The eight films by award-winning directors tell compelling and powerful stories of people struggling with grinding poverty, and the social factors that keep them there**.

Nick Fraser, BBC and Mette Hoffman, DR, joint series editors for Why Poverty?, commented:
“We believe documentary on television still matters. The brilliant filmmakers and producers working on this series think it matters too – they don’t make their films to hide them away. Public broadcasters around the world are working together with major online partners on Why Poverty?, and it’s going to be a compelling combination for audiences – no question about that”.

Don Edkins, Executive Producer for Steps International said:
“The Steps model proved its success with Why Democracy? in 2008 - fantastic docs together with online to create big events around the big questions. It’s great to already have the support of the EBU and so many major broadcasters around the world, but we want more from all continents to join this global coproduction for November 2012”.

Further information:

• For further information on Why Poverty? at Mipcom, please visit the Eurovision TV stand: G3.01.
• Why Poverty? flyer
• Why Poverty? website: www.whypoverty.net  

Note to editors:

* The EBU serves 85 national media organizations in 56 countries in and around Europe. It represents its Members and promotes the values and distinctiveness of public service media in Europe and around the world. The Eurovision and Euroradio networks deliver news, sports, events and music to EBU Members and other media organizations. Services to Members range from legal advice, technical standardization and development to coproduction and exchange of quality European content. For more information about the EBU: www.ebu.ch

**The eight hour-long documentaries are:

Solar Grandmothers: Director Jehane Noujaim
Upstairs Downstairs: Director Alex Gibney
Stealing Africa: Director Christoffer Guldbrandsen
Chinese Dream: Director Weijun Chen
How to Do Good: Director Bosse Lindquist
Animated History of Poverty: Director Ben Lewis
Welcome to the World: Director Brian Hill
The Last Harvest: Directors Hugo Berkeley & Osvalde Lewat-Hallade