Annuaire Europeen Vol. Xii European Yearbook

The term EUROVISION, invented-by pure chance-only a few years ago, is now familiar to millions. What the name covers is the subject of this paper. EUROVISION is not the name of an organisation or company, but rather an emblem. It signifies international co-operation in television programme exchanges within the framework of the European Broad­ casting Union - or rather the most spectacular element of that Co-oper­ ation. It appears conspicuously at the head of programmes relayed by several countries. To understand the full extent of this co-operation, it is best to look at the wider field covered by the structure and working of the European Broadcasting Union itself. The European Broadcasting Union is a professional association, grouping Western European radio-television organisations as active members, with organisations in other continents as associate members. It is financed by contributions from its members. Questions of principle, management and financial responsibility come under the Administrative Council or the General Assembly (from which it is elected) - in which the Directors-General of the several organisations are represented. The present Chairman is M. RoDIN6 of Italy who succeeded M. RYDBECK of Sweden. Four Committees are responsible for preparatory studies and routine problems: the Legal, the Technical, the Programme and the Sound Broadcasting Committees, which group the specialist Service Directors.