Lucerne, 21 April 2010 -  Today, a selection of the best programmes public broadcasters are offering are being screened at the Eurovision TV Summit during the “Proud to Present” session.

The event, now in its fourth edition, gathers European public service media experts and decision-makers to learn about the latest trends, share information, find inspiration, network and make decisions on the future of public service programming. 

In her keynote speech, the EBU’s Director General, Ingrid Deltenre urged Members to:
“Invest in quality, innovate and develop a dialogue with the audience in order to remain distinctive and relevant in a crowded media environment”

She added:
“We need to be big on ideas, big in ambition, big in impact”.

One of the day's highlights was a presentation of the CAP Awards, an annual live entertainment event which is an award show celebrating the talents and perseverance of people with physical disabilities.  The show developed and broadcast by The Netherlands public broadcaster, TROS, is watched by 16% of the Dutch viewing public. 

 The EBU is looking into setting up a European Capability Awards with its Members in collaboration with TROS. Lucille Werner, the show's presenter, said “We would like every nation to present their best and brightest. These awards raise public awareness in an amazing way and show that anything is possible”.
 

The best, most innovative and inspiring programmes featured at today’s Proud to Present session are:

Music & Dance: “Classical Music Reframed” NRK, Norway

Entertainment: “CAP Awards Ceremony” TROS, The Netherlands

Education: “I Think, therefore I am” YLE, Finland

Formats: “Formats Lab” NPO, the Netherlands

Science: “Chernobyl A Natural History” Arte, France

Children: “Circus” VRT Ketnet, Belgium

Fiction:  “Londoners”, TVP, Poland

Intercultural:  “Ab and Sal”, NPS, the Netherlands

Cross Media:  “France 24 Mobile & The Observers”, France 24, RFI and TV5Monde, France

Documentary:  “Apocalypse: World War II”, France Télévisions, France

A Eurovision World Feed will go out at 16.00 GMT today with “Highlights of the Eurovision TV Summit” including clips of “Proud to Present” programmes.

For further information about the Eurovision TV Summit and Common Focus Day information please go to www.ebu.ch.

Note to Editors:
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) serves 85 national media organizations from 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 European Broadcasting Union 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 and dance, documentary, science and education, fiction, and of course the annual mega-show the Eurovision Song Contest.  86% of EBU Members are involved in Eurovision TV coproductions.