Pic: EBU/RBB
The EBU has given details of how its members helped keep the Ukrainian public broadcaster UA:PBC on the air following the Russian invasion.
In early March, the television tower in Kyiv became one of the first targets of Russian missiles. When a control room was hit and terrestrial television and radio services went off air, the public broadcaster, UA:PBC, was able to quickly revert to back-up transmitters using a secondary tower on the other side of the city. As the war intensified, both terrestrial and satellite-based resources were progressively disrupted or taken over. Key production facilities were relocated to Lviv, in western Ukraine.
Following a request for support, assistance was given from Eurivision News, Euroradio, and Eurovision Services with the EBU’s Technology & Innovation Department playing a key role.
“The incredible mobilization of EBU Members and the wider media community to provide urgent assistance to UA:PBC must now be matched by a redoubling of our efforts to build advanced collaborative network solutions, that will provide stability and long-term certainty,” said Antonio Arcidiacono, the EBU’s Director of Technology & Innovation. “Our media distribution networks should be regarded as critical national infrastructure, broadcasting a fundamental means of reaching the entire population of a country.”
At least 13 EBU Members were able to provide assistance in the form of essential equipment. This included everything from cameras, microphones and mixing consoles to newsgathering kits, satellite uplink stations and even generator trucks.
The logistics involved in getting the equipment to Ukraine were highly complex and typically involved a collective effort from volunteers and local authorities, with coordination both from the EBU and representatives of UA:PBC.
Several commercial companies also lent their support through the donation of essential production and distribution gear, including transmitters.
