NOTES ON EUROPEAN TV AND EUROVISION FOR CONSIDERATION BY COBAT, COMPILED BY USIA/TV AFTER DISCUSSION WITH BOB HANEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030093-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 14, 2000
• Sequence Number: 93
• Publication Date: January 18, 1956
• Content Type: NOTES

State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file
Approved For Release 2000/08/23ECflETRDP78-01634Rn.n 3-4
January 18, 1956
*t.s on European TV and uroviaion for considerati
CST, oiled
ovision is an eight-country cooperative venture, historica
established as a eprogra : excb rye" project tween England and France
primarily at the tine of the coronation,
25X1A9a
Euroviai on is cooperatively run by the European Broadcaztin Union
practical program operations level, by the U Program ComAttee,
ular r Section TV --2 -* L he "live" program working group. 117-1 is the
fib. exchange group.
3, The TV-2 erob
as the Chairman.,
xJ' a cy .rogrbi17'~ k' Kan r of
L, While each member ci' t xe TV-C^ group hL? s exn equal voice, influence
operations is exerted pretty such on the politico-power basis that would
expected.
the cast 1 (1poi to t: sa f )F ~::: are --
1. ngl.a rd - Cecil a~ clivi: rn
2, Fre.nce - Jean t rcy
3. Italy - r=r, Pu licsvi
4. i.3errae,nv - r, 'lei tfir
in that order.
These rye>nbers ;nave a tendency to cc pc>s+e the t ha]. ince of dcirer
guiding 0.1 uroir .sign retwcrk broadcasting.
gains ground itt V IC progress of televit ion,
Or, there is a goad possibility that with the tremendous progress
waki in elevI Ion, and depcrndin4 on the pry ssures each
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participant is able to exert on the others, that aexmy might be able to
gain the balance position like this --
0
At this time, it world seem questionable that official U, S. Tele-
on could influence operations of Eurovision by working collectively with
a group of arm make-up within the current or forseeable structure of either
FUW or the Eurovision network itself.
Conversely, there is good reason to believe that working arrange-
ments can be fostered with individual participants to advantage. There is
reason to believe that U. u, Television networks might be helpful.
Unless the U. S. contributes substantially to the programming of the
Eurovision network, it ay well be that Eurovision will be wide open to Soviet
Orbit programs, fed directly on the cable from the East.
commodities or other possible exchange items between the East
and "Test,, there are no restricting rules or control factors on such Television
exchange, This would n&ce the solution the problem of Eurovision or some
sort of Television "network" operation in Western Europe of even more
importance,
In connection with all of the above, questions would seem to include
Are the people of the TV-2 U group the right people
to work through? Or, are there others up above of
better position to us?
hecognizing that L BU is a "trade organization" and as
such runs "the cooperatives' Euroviaion, would working
with the U,, per as, be either productive or effec-
tive, even if possible on a broad scale?
with the four top members of Uee TV 2, where it would
be possible for us to move around within the "balance
of power" field?
it be advantageous to us to work separately
not counter the threat of Soviet Orbit Television
program exchanges on Eurovision with U.S, originated pro-
grams, working through the individual .member countries --
and perhaps even once more removed by working through
established U.S. Television networks and then in turn
through EBU members?
Are these factors the guide lines we are looking for or
is there a better, more obscure approach?
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