Cannes (Mipcom), 4 October 2010 – the EBU and TED today agreed that European public broadcasters would  be able to broadcast TED’s TEDTalks under the TED pilot Open TV Project.

The agreement provides the EBU’s 75 Active Members with free access to TEDTalks that are currently available for free on the internet.  Broadcasters will have permission not only to air the talks, but also create programmes around them -- for example, using local hosts to introduce or wrap up the talks. The Open TV Project aims to bring TED’s “Ideas Worth Spreading” to broadcasters around the world to facilitate the growing global conversation.

Nicoletta Iacobacci, EBU Head of Interactive TV & Crossmedia said, “We are delighted to collaborate with TED. This agreement fits in well with public service values in bringing quality knowledge and information to wide audiences. We are planning to create a working group to develop a European format which will enable the content to be exchanged easily.”

This is the EBU’s second collaboration with TED.  Just a few days ago, on 30 September the EBU held the first TEDx event: TEDxTransmedia, aimed at inspiring in particular public service broadcasters to dare to create innovative content and borderline strategies in a bid to connect with the audience of the future. It is designed to stimulate dialogue among creative professionals in the ‘otherMedia’ sector.  The event was attended by public service broadcasters and comprised presentations by global experts in transmedia who shared their “daring” attitudes about their work, strategies and personal perspectives.

Press Release, 30 September 2010, Public Service Broadcasters hold first TEDxTransmedia 

More information about the TED pilot Open TV project

Find Eurovision TV at Mipcom (4–7 October): Stand no. G3.01 (3 floor), Palais des Festivals

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 Interactive TV & Crossmedia
As media markets converge further and user demands change, Eurovision Interactive TV & Crossmedia has established a dynamic new media creative content community among public service media corporations.  Eurovision Interactive TV & Crossmedia organizes various conferences and groups to help broadcasters boost consumer loyalty and enhance the viewing experience.

About TEDx
In the spirit of ‘ideas worth spreading’, TED has created TEDx. TEDx is a programme of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxTransmedia where x = independently organized TED event. At TEDx Transmedia, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection within a small group. The TED conference provides general guidance for the TEDx programme, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

About TED
TED is a non-profit organization devoted to ideas worth spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, for which exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world; and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at facebook.com/TED.

UK. TED2011, The Rediscovery of Wonder, will be held from 28 February to 4 March 2011, in Long Beach, California, with the TEDActive simulcast in Palm Springs, California.