The EBU, the European Broadcasting Union, have welcomed a new full member, during the 96th EBU General Assembly, in Prague.

CBC/Radio-Canada is now a full Member of the EBU, the European Broadcasting Union, following a vote earlier today at the EBU’s 96th General Assembly in Prague. The move formalises and deepens the long-standing relationship between Canada’s national public broadcaster and the EBU.

As an Associate Member of the EBU since 1950, CBC/Radio-Canada has collaborated with European public broadcasters on journalism, standards and technology, and built productive partnerships with leading EBU Members. Now, as a full Member, CBC/Radio-Canada has access to the entire breadth of EBU collaboration, including Member-only networks for investigative journalism, verification, digital news and data, as well as the Eurovision News Exchange and Euroradio Music Exchange services.

Founded in 1936 as a radio broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada today is a multi-platform public service media company serving Canadians across six time zones in English, French, and eight Indigenous languages. CBC/Radio-Canada’s approach to shared standards and interoperability aligns directly with the EBU’s role in technical coordination across Members. Its editorial standards have been independently validated by the Journalism Trust Initiative, and its research, co-production expertise and experience in digital rights management with major technology platforms add practical depth to what the EBU community can draw on together.

The vote to promote CBC/Radio-Canada to full Member followed a revision to the EBU’s Statutes, also approved by the General Assembly today. The revised framework opens extra-European Membership to broadcasting organisations from countries with a public service media system aligned with core Council of Europe standards and formal observer status with the Council of Europe. Canada meets both criteria.

Noel Curran, Director General of the EBU, had the following to say:

“CBC/Radio-Canada has been part of the EBU family since our foundation in 1950. As one of the world’s leading public broadcasters, it has already contributed hugely to our Union — helping us set and uphold the standards of public service journalism that matter most right now. Full Membership means we can now do even more together: on platform accountability, on trusted news, on the resilience that public broadcasters need to build for the years ahead. Canada’s voice in this community makes us stronger.”

Marie-Philippe Bouchard, President & CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, had the following to say:

“Thank you to the European Broadcasting Union for welcoming CBC/Radio-Canada as a full Member. This new chapter in our relationship with the EBU and its members will deepen our cooperation at a time when the collective impact of public service media is essential. It’s an important milestone that will benefit people on both sides of the Atlantic by helping to combat disinformation and support cultural expression.

As a full Member, we are hitting the ground running by announcing our full participation in the Eurovision News Exchange. This will allow more Canadian news and perspectives to reach audiences in Europe, and bring more international coverage to Canadians.”

Let us know what you think about Canada and the European Broadcasting Union – either in the comments below or on our FACEBOOK, BLUESKY, TWITTER, YOUTUBE, INSTAGRAM and TIKTOK pages.

The Eurovision Community, which Eurovision Ireland are a part of, celebrates diversity through music. Please keep your comments respectful. We will not tolerate racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, body-shaming or any other derogatory or hostile language.

Author: Richard Taylor

Source: EBU