The EBU and Tunisia TV successfully deployed a broadcast network across Tunisia Friday (October 21) to ensure the whole population could follow electoral developments in all constituencies during the first democratic vote in the country, and the first in the wake of the Arab Spring.

The strategic placement of satellite dishes and other network facilities meant the whole population could for the first time see coverage shot in every part of the country as Tunisians went to the polls, on Sunday, October 23 (click here to see the map of the satellite and mobile radio transmission points) .  Under the Ben Ali regime, only one sixth of Tunisia, including the capital, had radio and TV bureaux, because news from the rest of the country was not considered important.

The coverage plan was rolled out on Friday and was to remain operational through Saturday, Sunday and Monday, until the result of the vote was known.

On Friday EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre said the EBU had a duty to help its Members, wherever possible, to provide their populaces with reliable coverage in an independent, impartial and transparent way.

"This is a crucial test for Tunisia and for the whole region, where people will be closely watching this election and its news coverage to see if the transition to an institutionally functional democracy is possible through a normal election process," she said. 

After talks in Tunis in September between EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot, and Tunisian Prime Minister Béji Caïd Essebsi, the EBU and a group of contributing Members gave around €200,000 each to provide Tunisia TV and Radio with a total €400,000 package of technical support, production services, transmission capacity and professional expertise. This unprecedented joint operation between the EBU and its Members takes place within the EBU's Special Assistance Project. The aid is tied to the adherence of a code of ethics regarding editorial independence, impartiality, and transparency for the election coverage.