European Audiovisual Observatory

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European Audiovisual Observatory
Logo of European Audiovisual Observatory
Logo
Official languagesEnglish, French, German
Membership42 members (41 countries plus the European Union represented by the European Commission)[1]
Leaders
Pauline Durand-Vialle
Website
obs.coe.int

The European Audiovisual Observatory (French: Observatoire européen de l’audiovisuel, German: Europäische Audiovisuelle Informationsstelle) is a public service organisation, part of the Council of Europe set up in 1992 as a partial agreement.[2]

The Observatory collects, analyses and produces data about the audiovisual industries in Europe, such as cinema, television, audiovisual media services (such as streaming services and video sharing platforms) and public policies related to these sectors. [3] The budget of the Observatory is mainly financed by direct contributions from its member states and the European Union represented by the European Commission [4]. Part of its budget is covered by the sale of certain products and services.

The Observatory's headquarters are located in the Villa Schutzenberger in Strasbourg.[3]

Scope

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The Observatory collects, processes and disseminates information on the audiovisual sector in its member states [5] and on the activities of international organisations. It also monitors developments in other parts of the world from time to time.

The information provided by the European Audiovisual Observatory is intended for professionals in the audiovisual sector: producers, distributors, exhibitors, broadcasters and other audiovisual service providers, international organisations in the sector, decision-makers in public bodies responsible for the media, national and European legislators, journalists, researchers, lawyers, investors and consultants, and the academic world.

This information is available in the form of publications, statistical data, financial market analysis [6] and in-depth studies on legal developments[7] . It is made available in the form of various publications and services, many of which are available free of charge: reports, online information, databases [8] , presentations made at conferences or workshops.

The European Audiovisual Observatory has established and manages a European information network from which it collects its information. This network is made up of partner organisations and institutions, companies specialising in the provision of professional information and specialist correspondents.

The official languages of the Observatory are French, English and German.

Structure

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The Executive Director of the Observatory is in charge of a multicultural team from different European countries [9]. Structurally the Observatory is divided into two Departments which take care of collecting, processing and producing all the Observatory's information in the form of reports and online databases. The two Departments are: The Department for Market Information and the Department for Legal Information [10].

The Observatory also houses the Secretariat of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities [11], which allows information exchange between the two organisations.

Members and Executive Council

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The Observatory has 42 members which meet together in its Executive Council [12]. This governing body meets twice a year to greenlight the Observatory's action plan and budget. Its national members come from various national ministries or institutions working in the audiovisual sector. They are made up of 41 countries and the European Union [13] represented by the European Commission [14].




References

  1. ^ "Members represented in the Executive Council of the European Audiovisual Observatory". Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  2. ^ "European Audiovisual Observatory". Resource Centre on Media Freedom in Europe. Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT). Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Council of Europe: European Audiovisual Observatory". Europe's Human Rights Watchdog. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  4. ^ "European Commission, official website - European Commission". commission.europa.eu. 2025-10-24. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  5. ^ "Members represented in our Executive Council - European Audiovisual Observatory - obs.coe.int". European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  6. ^ "Markets - European Audiovisual Observatory - obs.coe.int". European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  7. ^ "Department for Legal Information - European Audiovisual Observatory - obs.coe.int". European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  8. ^ "Observatory Online services - European Audiovisual Observatory - obs.coe.int". European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  9. ^ "Team - European Audiovisual Observatory - obs.coe.int". European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  10. ^ "What we do - European Audiovisual Observatory - obs.coe.int". European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  11. ^ "EPRA - European Platform of Regulatory Authorities". www.epra.org. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  12. ^ "Members represented in our Executive Council - European Audiovisual Observatory - obs.coe.int". European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  13. ^ "Your gateway to the EU, News, Highlights | European Union". european-union.europa.eu. 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  14. ^ "European Commission, official website - European Commission". commission.europa.eu. 2025-10-24. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
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