Brussels – 20 April 2010 – Broadcast Network Operators from 20 European countries have come together to create an association representing their industry’s interest vis-à-vis EU policy makers and stakeholders.

Recognizing consumer demand for Digital Terrestrial Television and convinced of the need for a coordinated approach to support future developments, Broadcast Network Operators across Europe have joined to create Broadcast Networks Europe. The association aims to ensure that European citizens continue to have universal access to a broad range of TV and radio programs and content as well as other over-the-air services.

Broadcast Networks Europe currently gathers twelve founding members: Abertis (Spain), Arqiva (United Kingdom), Broadcast Services Denmark (Denmark), Elettronica Industriale (Italy), Norkring (Norway), OIV (Croatia), ORS (Austria), Radiocom (Romania), Rai Way (Italy), Swisscom Broadcast (Switzerland), TDF Group (France) and Teracom (Sweden). Media Broadcast (Germany), Digita (Finland), Levira (Estonia), Antenna Hungaria (Hungary), Norkring België (Belgium), Norkring d.o.o (Slovenia) amongst others are also represented via their parent companies (forming part of the founding members).

“Terrestrial Broadcast Network Operators were missing a forum to discuss policy issues of common interest, whether it be spectrum, interference or the long term development of terrestrial networks for TV and radio and broadcast-based new services,” says Bernard Pauchon (TDF Group), Chairman of Broadcast Networks Europe.“With the development of additional and innovative terrestrial broadcast services making optimum use of the digital dividend at the top of our agenda, it became obvious that we had a lot to win in joining forces,” he adds.

Dedicated to maintaining an efficient and fair regulatory and operational environment for Terrestrial Broadcast Network Operators, the association will provide a framework for member companies to exchange views on policy matters and develop joint positions. “Working together to maintain competitiveness of the terrestrial platforms is essential,” says Lars Backlund (Teracom) Vice Chairman of the association. “We expect that operators from several other countries will join the association in the course of the next few months giving our sector an even more important and representative voice,” he adds.

Broadcast Networks Europe has set up three working groups focusing on policy setting, commercial aspects, and technical and spectrum availability matters. These will be respectively chaired by Josep Ventosa (Abertis), Dr Peter D. Couch (Arqiva) and Marco Marcovina (Elettronica Industriale).

Broadcast Networks Europe is an international non-profit making association registered in Brussels. Its operations are managed by Interel Association Management located nearby the European Institutions. Broadcast Networks Europe has participated in discussions at the recent Spectrum Summit and will hold its launch event on 2nd June in Brussels.