Top broadcasters meet in Geneva this Friday to appoint the next chief executive of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), operator of the Eurovision network and the world’s largest association of national broadcasting organizations.

The Geneva-based EBU has been headed since 1990 as Secretary General by Jean-Bernard Münch, a Swiss national who will leave the organization this summer. His successor will be appointed by the EBU’s Administrative Council on the recommendation of the Union’s new President, Arne Wessberg. Director general of YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Wessberg succeeded Albert Scharf as EBU President on 1 January. Mr Scharf, head of Bayerischer Rundfunk, had been EBU President seen 1983.

The EBU serves 69 national broadcasters from 50 countries in the European area. Activities include operation of the Eurovision and Euroradio networks; the purchase of sports rights on behalf of its members; coordination of news and sports programming; technical research; co-productions; and the defence of public service broadcasting.

The EBU is undergoing great change as it enters its second half century of existence. January 1 saw the arrival not only of Mr Wessberg, but also of three new Vice-Presidents: Michèle Cotta (Director General of France 2), Klaus Berg (Director General of Hessischer Rundfunk, Frankfurt), and Roberto Zaccaria (President of RAI, Italy). This week’s choice of a new Secretary General will be followed in May by the appointment of new Directors for three of the EBU’s five departments – Radio, Television, and Operations.

For further information, please contact:

David Lewis
Head of Communications, EBU
Tel: +41 22 717 2032
E-mail: press@ebu.ch