OVERVIEW OF EBU ACTIVITIES Philip Laven Director, Technical Department European Broadcasting Union ITU BR Information Meeting on RRC-04/05 Geneva 19 September 2003

THE EBU The EBU represents the interests of broadcasters in 53 “European” countries – corresponding to the ITU-defined “European Broadcasting Area” The EBU played a major role in the 1961 Stockholm Conference – and has been closely involved in all subsequent planning activities RRC-04/05 is clearly the most important technical challenge facing the EBU in the near future It is crucial for the EBU and its Members that RRC-04/05 should define a framework which will permit the evolution of broadcasting

SUCCESS IN Few of the participants in the 1961 Stockholm Conference could have imagined that the outcome of their work would be valid more than 40 years later That success story is even more surprising when you consider that the Stockholm Conference was held at the height of the Cold War – and that the European Broadcasting Area includes the East and the West of Europe In addition to the political difficulties, many real technical problems, such as the mixture of 7 MHz and 8 MHz channels, had to be resolved

GREATER CHALLENGES The challenges facing RRC-04/05 are probably even greater than those in 1961: –the diversity of broadcasters’ requirements in the digital era (for radio and TV) –the varying timetables for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting (even in adjacent countries) –the accelerating pace of technological change –the extension of scope beyond the European Broadcasting Area

DIGITAL REQUIREMENTS... In 1961, the task was “simply” to develop a frequency plan for analogue FM and TV services All services were planned on the basis of reception at 10 metres above ground level Although much analogue TV reception still depends on roof-top antennas, few FM receivers use antennas at 10 metres above ground level Some digital TV services and ALL DAB services will be designed for reception on mobile and portable devices

ANALOGUE TO DIGITAL An “all-digital” plan would be easier to develop than a plan which permits a mixture of analogue and digital services In practice, the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting will occur at different speeds in different countries – with no certainty about the length of the transition period To accommodate the varying timetables, it will be necessary to develop mechanisms that will allow co-existence of digital and analogue broadcasting

WHAT IS DIGITAL TV FOR? In some countries, digital TV is being used to extend the number of available TV services In countries with high penetration of cable or satellite TV, digital terrestrial TV is attractive because, uniquely, it can provide reception on mobile, portable or set-top antennas In some countries outside Europe (e.g. Japan, USA, Australia), HDTV is the driving force behind digital TV – when will HDTV happen in Europe? The revised plan must try to be “future proof”

THE FUTURE OF BROADCASTING The Stockholm Plan is still in force more than 40 years after it was agreed Will the revised Plan also last 40 years? How will broadcasting change over 40 years? How will the revised Plan accommodate foreseeable developments, such as HDTV or mobile/portable TV? What about “unforeseen” developments? Even if the Plan needs major revision after, say, 20 years, it will still define the framework for broadcasting for many more years

EBU INVOLVEMENT The EBU places great emphasis on the value of technical preparations for RRC-04/05 –technical studies –development of planning software –helping EBU Members to understand their options and to define their requirements Many of the expert speakers at this meeting are major contributors to EBU technical studies

CONCLUSIONS The EBU Technical Department is deeply involved in the preparations for RRC-04/05 Although National Administrations will be signatories to the new plan, most EBU Members are making active preparations for RRC-04/05 As the outcome of RRC-04/05 will determine the future of broadcasting, senior managers in EBU Members are taking a real interest in this subject The general view is that this subject is “too important to be left to the engineers”!