TELEVISION INDUSTRY JOIN FORCES FOR UNITED NATIONS “WORLD TELEVISION DAY”

Young audiences are the focus of this year’s celebration of World Television Day (21 November) – the United Nations led initiative backed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT) and egta, the Brussels based association of television and radio sales houses.

A 30 second video highlighting the role TV plays in the lives of young people will be shown by broadcasters across Europe, Asia, Canada, USA and Australia on 21 November and can be seen above.

The video reflects how young audiences across the world now watch programmes on various devices including mobile phones and tablets. It shows them making heart signs to echo the sentiment of World TV Day which is We Love TV.

Broadcasters can add their own local content to the video before airing the clip across their networks or online portals.

Television is still proving popular amongst young audiences with those in Europe aged between 15 – 24 years old watching on average 2.11 hours* of TV a day. 94.5%** of that time is spent watching live television and the medium reaches 76%*** of young people each week.

To celebrate their love of television viewers are encouraged to use the hashtags #WeloveTV and #WorldTVDay on social networks on 21 November.

EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre says that today’s anniversary is a timely reminder of the golden age of television we are living in: “There is more, and better quality TV content than ever before and as consumers we have so much more choice about how to enjoy it all, since it is available to us whenever and wherever," she said.

"This year’s theme is key to our industry; we need fresh young talent to work with us and to learn from in order to be even more relevant in the future than we are today. Once again I am glad to see so many worldwide partners joining forces to celebrate a medium that has managed to stay relevant reinventing itself in numerous ways”

egta President Jan Isenbart says today’s TV is all about choice and ubiquity: “Let’s not forget that it was the established linear TV channels which opened the doors for time-shifted and on demand viewing. Young viewers have embraced the new possibilities of watching premium video content anytime, anywhere and on any device more enthusiastically than any other target group, without abandoning the central role of the big screen in the living-room. In fact, a vast majority of their total viewing continues to happen on the TV set. With almost unlimited options, television has entered a second golden age for content producers, advertisers and viewers alike.”

Chairman of the ACT Board of Directors Magnus Brooke says commercial broadcasters have to offer the audience the ability to consume content wherever and whenever they want it: “Of course, young people are leading the way in consuming content in different ways though young viewers still continue to consume a lot of content via linear TV as well as on a number of other platforms. We will continue to adapt to their needs to deliver the best and most innovative services that inform and entertain Europe.”

UN Regional Information Centre Deputy Director Caroline Petit says World Television Day was proclaimed an annual event by the United Nations in 1996 in recognition of the impact television increasingly has on decision-makers: “World Leaders have recently adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals. They can only be a success if people – especially the youth - know about them. TV has the potential to help sharpen the understanding of the goals and other global topics.” Ms Petit said. “TV’s power lies in its ability to reaching people by sending strong images and illustrate complex developments.”

The three associations also gathered research and figures about young viewers’ media consumption, which can be found here.

* Figures collated by the EBU’s Media Intelligence Service based on Eurodata TV Worldwide/relevant partners and Members data based on 48 EBU markets

** Figures collated by the EBU’s Media Intelligence Service based on Members data based on 20 EBU markets

*** IP FourscreenTouchpoints/base: video contacts adults 14-25 years