- European Audiovisual Observatory
Infobox Organization
name=EUROPEAN AUDIOVISUAL OBSERVATORY
type= European body
membership= 37 active members
headquarters=Strasbourg ,France
formation=1992
website=The European Audiovisual Observatory was set up by the
Council of Europe as a Partial Agreement. It's legal basis is Resolution (92) 70 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, 15 December 1992. The idea for the Observatory originated at the European Audiovisual Assizes in 1989, and was actively pursued by Audiovisual Eureka during the years 1989 to 1992.The observatory provides statistical and analytical information on the fields of: film, television, video/dvd, new audiovisual media services and public policy on film and television.
Information
This information is available in the form of: "Market reports, statistics and financial analyses as well as legal reports and news up-dates."
The information is distributed by the Observatory in the form of products and services, some available for purchase, many free of charge:" Print publications, information on-line, databases and directories, and contributions to conferences and workshops."
Scope
The Observatory collects, processes and distributes information on the audiovisual sector in its member states as well as on the work of international organisations. Occasionally it also follows developments in other territories.
Target Groups
The information provided by the European Audiovisual Observatory is aimed at professionals working within the audiovisual sector: producers, distributors, exhibitors, broadcasters and other media service providers, international organisations in this field, decision-makers within the various public bodies responsible for the media, national and European legislators, journalists, researchers, lawyers, investors and consultants.
Statute and Resources
The "European Audiovisual Observatory" is based in Strasbourg, France. The budget of the European Audiobvisual Observatory is mainly funded by direct contributions from its member states and the European Community, represented by the "European Commission" , and partly through revenues from the sale of its "products and services."
Team
The "Executive Director, Wolfgang Closs" , heads a multi-cultural team from several different European countries. Structurally, the Observatory is divided into two departments: "The Department for Information on Markets and Financing" headed by Dr André Lange, "The Department for Legal Information"' headed by Dr. Susanne Nikoltchev
These two departments are responsible for the collection, processing and editing of all the Observatory's information which is distributed in the form of products and services. The Observatory also hosts the secretariat of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA) thus allowing cooperation between the two bodies in the field of information collection. The official languages of the European Audiovisual Observatory are English, French and German.
Headquarters
The Observatory is housed in the famous "Art Nouveau" Villa Schutzenberger in Strasbourg's 'European quarter'. This office space is made available by the City of Strasbourg.
Network
The European Audiovisual Observatory has built up and manages a unique European information network from which it collects its information. This network is made up of: ° Partner organisations and institutions° Professional information suppliers° Selected correspondents
Members
"Executive Council" The European Audiovisual Observatory has 36 member states. The European Community, represented by the European Commission, is also a member. The members of the Observatory are represented on its Executive Council, which meets twice a year in order to adopt the Observatory's action plan and approve its budget. The representatives within the Executive Council usually come from those ministries and national institutions which deal with cultural or audiovisual policy.
"Members of the European Audiovisual Observatory":
AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RU, SE, SI, SK, TR, EC
Advisors
The Observatory's "Advisory Committee" is composed of representatives from the main European professional organisations as well as from the Observatory's partner organisations. It meets regularly in order to advise the Observatory on the information needs of the professionals of the audiovisual sector.
Products and services
Information on Markets and Financing
"Print Publications":
"The Yearbook"- Film, Television and video in Europe *
"FOCUS" - World Film Market Trends"Thematic reports" for example : -"Public Funding for Film and Audiovisual Works in Europe - A Comparative Approach"-"Film Distribution Companies in Europe"-"Television in the Russian Federation"
-"Video on demand in Europe"*"Databases/Directories":"LUMIERE" - Free-access database on admissions to films released in Europe
"KORDA" - Free-access database on public funding for the film and audiovisual sector in Europe
"PERSKY" - Free-access directory of television channels in Europe
"MAVISE" - Database on European television companies and channels EU-27 and candidate countries (financed by the DG Communication of the European Commission)- Operational from the end of 2007Legal Information
Publications
Iris Legal Observations - Monthly Newsletter [http://www.obs.coe.int/oea_publ/iris/index.html]
Iris "plus" - Supplement to Iris which offers a thematic comparison of national legal systems in Europe as well as overviews of the European legal context [http://www.obs.coe.int/oea_publ/iris/iris_plus/index.html]
Iris Special reports on specific legal themes within the audiovisual field [http://www.obs.coe.int/oea_publ/iris_special/index.html] such as "Political Debate and the Role of the Media"
Iris plus Collection which includes all articles published in the Iris plus supplement appears at the end of the year [http://www.obs.coe.int/oea_publ/iris/iris_plus/collec2007.html]
Databases/Directories
IRIS MERLIN - free access database on the legal audiovisual matters in Europe [http://merlin.obs.coe.int/]
Link List - to European institutions in the audiovisual sector. Free access [http://www.obs.coe.int/db/gavis/links.html]
Both departments of the European Audiovisual Observatory regularly publish the results of their research on the Observatory's website which is a real mine of information. In addition, we frequently publish reports of interest from other sources on this website. There are currently numerous different articles, studies and presentations available for download free of charge in English, French and German. The Observatory's website also give the latest information on our activities, press releases and forthcoming events. Research within this site by key word is possible thanks to the search engineon the home page.
See also
*
European Institutions in Strasbourg External links
* [http://www.obs.coe.int European Audiovisual Observatory] [http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/EN/PartialAgr/Html/Observ9270.htm Resolution (92) 70 establishing a European Audiovisual Observatory]
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