PURPOSES: The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed November 21st as World Television Day (through resolution 51/205 of 17 December 1996) in recognition of the increasing impact television has on decision-making by bringing world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues,. World Television Day is not so much a celebration of the tool, but rather the philosophy which it represents. Television represents a symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world. On 21 and 22 November 1996 the United Nations held the first World Television Forum, where leading media figures met under the auspices of the United Nations to discuss the growing significance of television in today's changing world and to consider how they might enhance their mutual cooperation. That is why the United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim November 21st as World Television Day. This was done in recognition of the increasing impact television has on the process of decision-making. Television was thus acknowledged as a major tool in informing, channelling and affecting public opinion. Its impact and presence and its influence on world politics could not be denied.
FORUM: “TV supports Democracy.” World Television Day 2024. In the 21st century, what is the purpose of a TV? It's not just a one-way channel for broadcast and cable content anymore. Modern televisions offer a wide range of multimedia and interactive content, such as streaming videos, music, and internet browsing. The interaction between emerging and traditional forms of broadcast creates a great opportunity to raise awareness about the important issues facing our communities and our planet. This year’s edition of the TV clip showcases how TV is an essential element supporting democracy. Television delivers a unique combination of 4 elements:
TV plays an important civic role in informing citizens about the world around them. It provides the population with vital sources of information, essential for democratic participation in society. TV reinforces media plurality representing a wide range of views and perspectives.
TV is a trusted and reliable source of information and is held to high editorial standards (a particularly important element in the current context of increasing misinformation, fake news and lack of transparency).
TV is a mass-reach medium offering an easy and democratic access to content and information to the wide population – across all platforms and devices, whoever and wherever audiences
The above-mentioned elements are enhanced by TV’s unique nature as an audio-visual medium, i.e. it’s power to create collective viewing experiences, key cultural moments and cross-societal conversations (across all social groups and generations) through compelling storytelling that resonates with wide audiences.
TV’s role as an essential element supporting democracy is largely made possible by advertising as a source of funding. Advertising allows media to remain independent and free of political influence. The egta, ACT and The Global TV Group release a special TV spot to illustrate the strengths of TV - the medium that is watched and loved by billions of people around the world. Watch the TV spot and follow the conversations with the hashtags: #Television, #Tvbroadcasting, #WorldTVDay, #21November, #qualityContent, #PayTV , #OTT, #IPTV, #broadband, #androidtv.
EVENTS: On November 21st, from UNHQ in New York will be held a virtual event will be held to mark the World Television Day 2024. The celebration will highlight TV’s essential role in supporting democracy. This year, our 30-second video clip is a powerful reminder of how multiplatform TV delivers verified information, shapes public opinion, and drives social change. Participants will discover the many ways how TV supports Democracy. The ACT (Association of Commercial Television), the egta (Association of TV and radio sales houses), the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and the Global TV Group join forces to promote the power of TV widely across the globe. Celebrate the World Television Day with us, Join the celebration!
Get the latest online event and discover interviews with CEOs of TV companies from around the world in which they highlight the many strengths of this ever-evolving medium!
AWARDS: The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented the inaugural “Excellence in Production Technology” Emmy® Award to The Santa Clauses Season Two film. The award was presented as part of the 75th Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards at the Prince George Ballroom in New York, hosted by David Pogue, Emmy award-winning correspondent, CBS Sunday Morning. William Wang, VIZIO Founder & CEO, received Life,me Achievement Honors for his contributions to the television manufacturing industry by bringing premium-quality, innova,ve TVs, and soundbars into millions of American homes at affordable prices. Watch The 75th Tech & Engineering Emmy Awards>> DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL PROGRAM!
2024 Technology & Engineering Emmy Award Honorees
Pioneering Development of Inexpensive Video Technology for Animation: Lyon Lamb (Bruce Lyon and John Lamb).
Large Scale Deployment of Smart TV Operating Systems: Samsung - LG - Sony - Vizio - Panasonic.
Creation and Implementation of HDR Static LUT, Single-Stream Live Production: BBC and NBC.
Pioneering Technologies Enabling High Performance Communications Over Cable TV Systems: Broadcom - General Instrument (CommScope) - LANcity (CommScope) - 3COM (HP).
Pioneering Development of Manifest-based Playout for FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming Television): Amagi - Pluto TV - Turner.
Targeted Ad Messages Delivered Across Paused Media: DirecTV.
Pioneering Development of IP Address Geolocation Technologies to Protect Content Rights: MLB - Quova.
Development of Stream Switching Technology between Satellite Broadcast and Internet to Improve Signal Reliability: DirecTV.
Design and Deployment of Efficient Hardware Video Accelerators for Cloud: Netint - AMD - Google - Meta -
Spectrum Auction Design: FCC -Auctionomics.
TV Pioneers – Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT): Karl Ferdinand Braun - Boris Lvovich Rosing - Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton.
TV Pioneers – Development of lighting, ventilation, and lens-coating technologies: Hertha Ayrton - Katharine Burr Blodgett.
STATEMENTS: Read the TV leaders on how TV drives Brands.
AV LIBRARY: The United Nations Audio-Visual Library has a treasure trove of archival video and audio, marking iconic and historic moments from the last 76 years.
PODCASTS: Daily programme of meetings, agenda, summaries and documents at the UNHQ. TV once involved a simple unidirectional broadcast, where content was pushed to viewers who had to watch whatever was ‘on the tube’ at the time. The latest iterations, in contrast, integrate broadcast-broadband systems and Internet Protocol (IP) streaming to provide a customizable, interactive experience. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: A TV campaign characterizes the fact that a TV advertiser is going on television thanks to one or several TV spots, in which he/she presents its products. A brand's presence on Television can provide a big boost in credibility. The TV marketing campaigns expose your brand, your products, and your company's message.
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
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In 1996, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21st November as World Television Day “in recognition of the increasing impact television has on decision-making by alerting world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues (…)”. In 2013, the EBU joined forces with EGTA and ACT to promote UN World TV Day on November 21st. Every year a short video clip highlighting the role TV plays in our lives is offered to be broadcast by televisions across Europe, Asia, Canada, USA and Australia. To date, the United Nations Television has reported from more than 100 countries around the world, covering global issues such as conflict and human rights, poverty, refugees, drugs and crime, and the environment.
Reflect on the values of television as a medium
Highlight the role of TV in communicating on key transnational issues
Recognize the central place in the lives of millions of people
Highlight the many services Television offers in the era of multi-screening.
Broadcasters are able to add their own local/ national content to the video before airing the clip across their networks or online portals and viewers encouraged to celebrate their love of television.
The World Television Day is hosted by the United Nations System, the UN WEBTV, the UNStories, the UNifeed, the United Nations Journal, the United Nations Multimedia Library, The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Broadband commission. With the collaboration of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), the International Association of Broadcasting (AIR/IAB), the egta, the Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), The Global TV Group, The World Broadcasting Unions (WBU), the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA). With the Participation of World TV Channels and their presentators, TV Broadcasters and Technicians, technological researchers and academics.