Basel welcomed 47 delegates from 27 EBU Members to the 22^nd TV Assembly on Thursday 21 April. The main focus of the day, hosted by Swiss Member SSR SRG, was the new “roadmap” and direction of the EBU’s TV department.

Media Director Jean Philip De Tender opened the Assembly by explaining the roadmap. “We needed to bring a new focus and a clearer purpose to what we are here to do, to listen to Members and focus on content which is the best expression of what were about," he told delegates from 25 countries.

The Head of the TV Committee, RTE’s Glen KIllane, told Members that one major project for the future is to create pan-European rights packages – to exchange science and education programmes free of charge for digital platforms where Members can provide fantastic content that can be put on all our platforms.

“One of the areas that we are beginning to work on and see potential in, is rights acquisition. We can work together to take on the big boys. We should defend our interests. There are things we can do. It’s about new ways of working and leveraging strength strategically and tactically Members interests,” he said.

New Head of Television Jeroen Depraetere told the Assembly that making the EBU’s Expert Groups the core contact between the permanent services  and Members was a priority.

He also explained how a new “solidarity package” is allowing Members to share public service content to regions who have funding issues  to enhance their programming.

Thomas Grond, Head of Young Audiences, presented the hugely successful “Generation What Europe”. The project, since its launch on April 15, has seen well over 250,000 people from across Europe take part a 40+ question survey aimed at 18-34 year olds. The survey is being conducted in 11 languages in 12 countries by 15 Members. “And it’s not too late to take part," said Grond.

Both Google and Twitter were represented at the Assembly to explain how they are working with Members and other broadcasters on sharing and bringing new audiences to content.

In a session entitled “Going Digital and Leaving the Linear Behind” Andy Thoms, who looks after Entertainment and Media Strategic Relationships at Google UK, said the rise of mobile viewing means that total video consumption is growing.

30 EBU Members have YouTube channels and Google works with many of them on catch up TV apps on Android.

“Our challenge," he said, “is to bring it all together and create something meaningful for a broadcaster with all our products. We have the same motivation as public service media about getting great content out there to everyone.”

Dan Biddle, Director of Strategic Innovation at Twitter UK told the Assembly that “Twitter users consume and create more TV related content across all platforms than non-Twitter users. They are the influencers and experts you want to reach.”

He added, “Twitter boosts TV ratings 29% of the time and an increase in the volume of tweets impacts live TV ratings. 6.8 million Tweets using  #eurovision were sent during the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.”

The Assembly also saw two innovative projects presented from Estonian and Swiss Members ETV and RTS.

“26” started as a 120 second sketch on French Swiss radio and was so successful  was developed into a 26 minute TV show as well as a successful DVD franchise.

“Host Swap” saw well known faces from Estonian television change places for a week. Viewers decided which presenters would host different shows – very much out of the comfort zone.

The 22^nd TV Assembly was followed by the very first Joint TV and Radio Assembly on 22 April.