Testimonials
What they say about television …
Influential personalities in the world of politics, social advocacy, sports, culture, entertainment and media share their experiences on how television has contributed to their career or to the promotion of their cause.
David Abraham Anggun Christiane Amanpour Salman Amin Kofi Annan Felix Baumgartner Heinz K. Becker Jeff Bezos Usain Bolt Jacques Borlée Lucie Borhyová Piotr Borys Claire Chazal Cristina Cordula Alex Crawford Sir Philip Craven Richard Curtis António Victorino D`Almeida Philippe Delusinne Michel De Maegd Mainardo De Nardis Gregorio Duvivier Antonia Erős Vyacheslav Fetisov Fundacja TVN “Nie jesteś sam” ZsaZsa Gabor Steven Gätjen Christophe Giltay Yves Priscilla Gneto Yves Gonzalez-Quijano Sir John Hegarty Justine Henin Gerrit Heijkoop Victoria Hislop Ottmar Hitzfeld Sebastian Höffner Iliana Ivanova Günther Jauch Ram Kapoor Renārs Kaupers Wadah Khanfar Taïg Khris Peter Kloeppel Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou Neelie Kroes Pernille La Lau Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal Karine Le Marchand Giannis Loukakos Nick Manning Yana Marinova Peter Nyman Jean-Paul Philippot Viviane Reding André Roberfroid Heikki Rotko Jean-Michel Saive Martin Schultz Michael Schumacher Birgit Schuurman Sir Martin Sorrell Alf Svensson István Szellő Victoria Terziiska Laurence Tiennot-Herment Quinty Trustfull Tarja Turtia Alejo Vidal-Quadras Lech Wałęsa Sarah Valentina Winkhaus
“Television is a tremendously powerful communications tool for building common understanding, dispelling myths and shedding light on global issues. The United Nations itself produces features, packages for broadcasters and live coverage of events to get its message out to the world. The UN Department of Public Information applauds the global celebration of World Television Day, and welcomes the chance to work with broadcasters to ensure that this great communications tool can benefit all of humanity.”
— Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal is the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information at the United Nations
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit 516484 – UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe)
“One of the cornerstones of democracy is unrestricted access to information. The pluralism of TV channels is one of its indispensible and essential elements.”
[„Jednym z najważniejszych elementów demokracji jest swobodny dostęp do informacji. Pluralizm kanałów telewizyjnych jest jego niezbędnym i podstawowym elementem.”]
“It all came from there,” Lech Wałęsa, said, pointing to a TV when a reporter asked him why communism fell.
— Lech Wałęsa was President of Poland between 1990 and 1995, a Noble Peace Prize winner and co-founder of Solidarity, the Soviet bloc’s first independent trade union
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“When I was younger I spent a lot of time playing sport and trying to copy the skills I saw famous sportsmen do on TV. In 2008 my performances in the Olympic Games in Beijing were broadcast to millions of people all over the world. I won three gold medals and broke three world records. At the 2012 Olympics I defended my titles and set another world record. Nowadays no matter where I go in the world people know me from watching me run on TV. I hope that my hard work and determination will inspire and mobilise young audiences worldwide to follow their dreams or to simply always aim higher to achieve their goals.”
— Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt is a five-time world champion and six-time Olympic gold medallist
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit PACE Sports Management)
“Freedom of expression and information is one of the most basic rights of the EU, as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It is a prerequisite to preserving our political liberties. That is why media freedom is taken consistently on board in our bilateral relations and agreements, particularly with developing countries. As it happens, the EU is paying close attention to the consolidation of media freedom in the post-Arab Spring countries, where we are intransigent in upholding and advocating the highest standards of television service. Evidently, if we have managed to safeguard this freedom, it is because journalists have risked their lives in providing us with uncensored facts and images. For the sake of European integration, we must embrace television, and other forms of media, in order to build our shared future where press freedom can continue to flourish.”
— Martin Schultz is the President of the European Parliament
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit European Parliament)
“We now live in an amazing digital world, and television is firmly part of that brave new world. Television is still the way to reach the most citizens and talk to them – and with them – about how the EU affects their lives. It’s still the way to bring people together – to laugh, to debate, to learn. In a world that takes a faster and faster pace, it is nice to know you can slow down once in a while with a good TV programme.”
— Neelie Kroes is responsible for the Digital Agenda for Europe
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“At the end of the day, all politics, whether at EU or national level, exist for the people: for our 500 million citizens living in the European Union. We need strong and independent media to raise awareness and report about successes and challenges facing the European Union. Television in particular, with its emotional power that allows viewers to explore, to empathise, to engage, is one of the cornerstones that make our democracies work. Images speak louder than words. I will continue counting on television to inform our citizens and unite them across borders. This is what Europe is about.”
— Viviane Reding is responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“It’s the media – television included, evidently – that bring Formula One to the living rooms of fans, followers and motorsport enthusiasts alike, making us F1 pilots widely known in the process.”
[„Die Medien an sich, natürlich auch das Fernsehen eingeschlossen, sind diejenigen, die uns in die Wohnzimmer unserer Interessierten, Fans und Motorsportbegeisterten bringen und uns damit natürlich bekannt machen."]
— Michael Schumacher is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television can be a tremendous force for good. It can educate great numbers of people about the world around them. It can show us how much we have in common with our neighbours, near and far. And, it can shed light on the dark corners, where ignorance and hatred fester. The television industry is also in a unique position to promote mutual understanding and tolerance – with content that tells the stories not just about the powerful, but about the powerless, and not just about life in the world’s richest pockets, but also in the developing countries that are home to the majority of the world’s population.”
— Kofi Annan was Secretary General of the United Nations between 1997 and 2006
(Source: World Television Day message, 21 November 2003)
“People around me tell me that the live broadcast (both on TV and on the Internet) of my mission to the edge of space and of my record-breaking freefall jump from 23 miles above the earth offered a unique and magic moment to millions of people around the world … They say that witnessing live my breaking the speed of sound, protected only by a space suit made it possible for so many people to start believing that it is possible to push the limits of what one once thought was impossible … That those images allowed children and adults alike to share my dream or to simply start dreaming for themselves … and that they arouse for thousands an interest in science, physics, speed, extreme sports, etc. This makes me feel very fortunate …”
— Felix Baumgartner set the world record for skydiving and became the first person to break the sound barrier without vehicular power on his descent
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit Red Bull Content Pull)
“When I was young I dreamed of becoming a champion … I watched a great deal of sports on television. It has truly been a driving force for me. Thanks to the images I saw on TV, I connected with my idols in my living room … In turn, I have been able to convey the values of sport to young people: courage, perseverance, determination … I am very pleased to know that – thanks to television – I was able to engage the emotions of people, unite an entire nation to behind me and motivate every generation.”
["Petite, j’avais un rêve, celui de devenir une championne… Je regardais énormément le sport à la télévision. Ça a véritablement été un moteur pour moi. Je vibrais avec mes idoles grâce à toutes ces images… A mon tour, j’ai pu transmettre aux jeunes les valeurs du sport : courage, persévérance, volonté,… Grâce à la télévision, je suis très heureuse d’avoir pu transmettre des émotions aux gens, d’avoir réuni tout un peuple derrière moi et d’avoir motivé toute les générations."]
— Justine Henin is a Belgian tennis player, Olympic champion and former World No. 1.
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“How TV coverage of Paralympians is contributing to a more inclusive society? Paralympic athletes have the ability to change the world. Their amazing performances and incredible stories teach the values of acceptance and appreciation for people with an impairment. They can change how people think about think about themselves and how they think about others contributing towards a more inclusive and equitable society. Such transformation is only possible however if people are able to see the athletes’ performances. This has not always been the case. The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome, Italy in 1960, however it was not until the 1992 Barcelona Games that they started to receive widespread TV coverage. Since 1992, and coinciding with increasing amounts of TV coverage, the Paralympics have developed an excellent track record for changing attitudes and perceptions of people with an impairment. The recent London 2012 Games attracted a record 2.72 million spectators all of whom were inspired by what they saw in the venues. However, far more people were left inspired and touched by what they saw on television. London 2012 was broadcast to over 115 different countries and territories reaching a cumulated TV audience of 3.8 billion people. They enjoyed what they saw. The Paralympics Games are unique in that they can put spectators and TV viewers through every single emotion, including ones we never thought we had. Post Games research conducted in Great Britain has revealed that 81% of people believe London 2012 had a positive impact on the way they view a person with an impairment. A further 65% said the Games were a breakthrough to viewing people with an impairment – up from 40% in June 2010. Not all the people surveyed were lucky enough to get a ticket to see the London Games. Most will have watched on TV. Thanks to TV coverage of Paralympic Games and other major international events, the Paralympic Movement is helping to build a bridge which links sport with social awareness. Long may it continue!”
— Sir Philip Craven is a former athlete and the current President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit IPC)
“My entire life as a professional athlete and public figure is closely connected to television. I remember how the power of TV drove the evolution of the Olympic Games from a relatively large-scale event into the biggest spectacle for billions of viewers all over the planet, into a huge business and into big-time politics. As a player in the NHL, I felt the influence of television, its amazing power to create stars and destroy them just the same. Working as a minister in Russia on a sports development program, I was the first to call for the creation of a public sports television channel. I am sure that the future of our children depends to a great extent on realising the educational potential of television.”
— Vyacheslav Fetisov, two-time Olympic champion, three-time Stanley Cup winner, Senator
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“In what ways has TV changed my life? It has been a joy to share with everyone on the TV screen all that I was scared to tell any of my eight husbands. And I even got a lot of money for it.”
[„Hogy miben változtatta meg a TV az életemet? Minden olyan dolgot, amit addig nem mertem nyolc közöl semelyik férjemnek sem elmondani, boldogan megoszthattam mindenkivel a képernyőn és még sok pénzt is fizettek érte."]
— ZsaZsa Gabor is a Hungarian-born American actress, who acted in movies, on Broadway, and on television
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit Wikipedia)
“And I believe that good journalism, good television, can make our world a better place.”
— Christiane Amanpour is Chief International Correspondent for CNN
(Source: Keynote Speech at the Edward R. Murrow Awards Ceremony, Minneapolis: 13 September, 2000)
“Until quite recently, sliding sports were not so well known by people at large, while it represented a passion for many young people. I believe that thanks to television, we were able to bring rollerblading and other ramp sports into people’s living rooms, by broadcasting spectacular shows and promoting the values of sport: healthy lifestyle, perseverance, team spirit, fair play, overcoming your own limitations, a sense of responsibility, striving to achieve goals for yourself and the community. Beating records in live shows and participating or hosting sports programmes was the best way for me to share my passion and bring the spirit of rollerblading to millions of youngsters out there, looking for inspiration and role models. Without the power of television, I couldn’t have jumped from the Eifel Tower in rollerblades, reaching live more than 1 million people on what is usually a French niche-channel (W9), but also aired live on 167 other channels across the world. Shows like Extreme Adventure, of which I am the host now, is a great example of how television can widen your horizon by mixing culture and adrenaline.”
— Taïg Khris is the World Champion of rollerblading and a television host on W9, MCM and Extreme Sports Channel
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“As a frequent participant in Spanish politics TV shows, I believe that television offers a unique forum for the communication of new ideas, discussion of current events and the fostering of healthy debate. Many a politician embarked upon his or her career due in part to what they had seen on television. TV prevents us from living in isolation with only our own opinions and, used wisely, can provide a window onto the world in which we live. In particular, news programmes enable us to reach an unprecedented level of awareness about the lives of those in other parts of the world.”
— Alejo Vidal-Quadras is a Spanish MEP and the Vice-President of the European Parliament
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“It’s impossible to overvalue the importance of television – both in its serious and less serious functions. It’s one of our most important ways of finding out the truth – and also of changing the world, and finding out what in the world needs changing. It’s also an immense bringer of joy – I learnt how to laugh through television, and now my children and I, every day of every week, share the joy and stupidity of TV shows – they actually make us HAPPY.”
— Richard Curtis is a British screenwriter, actor, film director and co-founder of Comic Relief (British charity organisation)
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT; Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)
“Television, as one of today’s most powerful communications media, has a key role to play in raising citizens’ awareness about significant national and international concerns and challenges. TV is a real window on the changing world, on other civilisations. Television needs to take advantage of its strength in a fair, pluralistic way, while respecting human rights and universal values. In modern times, given the consequences of the serious economic crisis as well as the need for stability and peace in many regions of the world, its role becomes even more crucial”
— Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou is a Member of the European Parliament
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Without TV – politics would stop. New fresh impulses, ideas and political parties would not have a chance without TV. Before, crowds would gather in big parks to listen: today these are replaced by TVs. TV has finally made the world round for real!”
— Alf Svensson is a Member of the European Parliament, former Swedish Minister for Development and Human Rights and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Freedom of expression is a comprehensive human right since it includes individuals’ possibility to actively speak out and seek and receive information. Public Service Broadcasting is particularly relevant to UNESCO’s core mission because it can serve as a cornerstone of democracy if it is guaranteed with pluralism, programming diversity, editorial independence and appropriate funding as well as accountability and transparency towards the public. That is why, between 2003-2010, UNESCO supported the development of a regional news exchange project in South East Europe. Women trafficking in the region, youth rights in EU and non-EU Balkan countries, industrial pollution in Croatia, sewage spillage in Serbia and environmental education were among the many issues public broadcasters covered as a group in their news and current affairs stories. Today, the news exchange project which has formed a stable self-sustainable network called ERNO, produces and exchanges more than 1,200 news items per year. Needless to say, television plays a vital role in raising local awareness of important issues relevant to this region of the world. Not only does television alert to the region’s most important issues, it also fosters cooperation and mutual understanding between South East European media, which provides, in turn, a framework for coordinated action towards tackling common political, economic and environmental crises.”
— Tarja Turtia, Programme Specialist, Division for Freedom of Expression and Media Development, UNESCO (UNESCO is the specialised United Nations agency tasked with defending the freedom of the press and promoting the free flow of information)
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I personally believe that television is a very influential form of media because it is a standard gateway of knowledge and information for the masses. It allows for the preservation of cultural diversity both at a local and a global level and provides for the introduction of other customs and languages. The best example that television removes boundaries is the fact that when I was on a delegation to Turkmenistan, people in the market from Ashkhabad recognised my language because their favourite TV channel was a Polish music channel. Television is a great source, not only of entertainment but also of education. I strongly believe that it is a great tool to promote standards of behaviour and democracy, which is very important from the point of view of the European Union activities.”
— Piotr Borys is a Member of the European Parliament
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“25 years ago, scientists, doctors and politicians in France tended to overlook the harsh reality of rare diseases. But thanks to France Télévisions’s 1987 fundraising telethon and the ensuing wave of citizen involvement, families affected by these diseases could let their voices be heard and spoke up about their lives and hopes towards new research in this field. This goes to show how a vast movement of TV professionals, scientists, doctors, patients and citizens alike allowed us to shake up the world of Biomedicine for the benefit of all.”
["Il y a 25 ans les maladies rares étaient en France les grandes oubliées de la recherche, de la médecine et des pouvoirs publics. Grâce au marathon télévisuel lancé par France Télévisions en 1987 et grâce à la mobilisation populaire qui l'accompagne, les familles frappées par ces maladies ont pu sortir du silence et témoigner de leur vie quotidienne et de leurs espoirs en la recherche. Un vaste mouvement alliant professionnels de la télévision, chercheurs, médecins, malades et grand public nous a ainsi permis de lancer une véritable révolution biomédicale au bénéfice du plus grand nombre."]
— Laurence Tiennot-Herment is the President of AFM-TELETHON
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television has brought the political life into everyone’s living room and made politics a fixed part of everyday life, therefore enhancing and spreading democracy in ways no other medium before could even come close to. The internet and new media have taken over some of these important responsibilities and pushed the dissemination of democracy to the next level. However, I strongly believe that television and online media are not only complementary, but will eventually merge. Already television has transformed the world forever, but I think that its potentials are still far from exhausted.”
— Heinz K. Becker is a Member of the European Parliament
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television is mostly perceived as entertainment, sometimes as an educational tool, regretfully sometimes as an instrument of propaganda. In my experience as a UNICEF officer, I have discovered that TV is also an extremely powerful agent for social change. When the success of a program demands a change in people’s habits or mentality, television is by far the most effective instrument. It penetrates the inner circle of the family; it represents the life of the rich and famous and, as such, is perceived as being credible. When a message is ‘seen on TV’ it is most probably good for me! This TV impact has been proved in many occasions, in all kinds of social and geographic environments. It was effective when we promoted a massive program to immunise children. Without the mobilisation of the families we would never have been able to increase the vaccination coverage from 5% to over 90% during the 1980s. The families would never have accepted the message without television. Other programs to improve child nutrition, to promote personal hygiene and the importance of clean water, to encourage school enrolment for girls, to stimulate micro credits have equally benefited from the participation of TV partners. The lesson for me is that TV can be one of the best media for social change if we choose to. It reaches people and it is credible.”
— André Roberfroid is the former Deputy Executive Director UNICEF and currently President of the Association Montessori Internationale
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“TV is the most generous medium. It even seems to benefit its competitors.”
— Sir Martin Sorrell is Chief Executive Officer of the world’s largest advertising company
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Europe is at a crossroads and we must decide now in which direction we want to take it: towards more or less integration. In my view, there is only one direction: a strong, united Europe. This means we must all respect the core European values, i.e. the free movement of persons and workers, and the free flow and exchange of information. Television in particular has a responsibility to bring forth solidarity across Europe, and it is my belief that it can, will and does so on all accounts.”
— Iliana Ivanova is a Bulgarian Member of the European Parliament and economist
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“If we humans want to feel good, we must indulge in intense positive emotions. Television is a force among many others for scattering light, one that allows us to conjure up dreams from the living room. Through televised sports, we can spend buzzing moments at home and relate to athletes’ achievements – a source of both joy and pride.”
[''L'homme pour se sentir bien doit vivre des émotions positives intenses. La télévision est un des vecteurs importants qui transportent la lumière et donne le rêve à domicile. Par l'intermédiaire du sport, les hommes peuvent chez eux vivre des vibrations intenses et s'approprier le succès source de joie, de fierté.'']
— Jacques Borlée is a former Belgian athlete and European Athletics Coach of the Year 2011
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit RTBF)
“Everyone wants to talk about the role of social media in last year’s uprisings, but the big Arab television news channels played just as significant a part in the Arab Spring. There is a limit to the extent to which mobile phones can replace professional cameras: their short video sequences do not have the emotional impact of a feature on Al-Jazeera or Al-Arabiya, the two biggest news channels in the region. Their live reports from Tahrir Square and elsewhere were able to reach tens of millions of viewers. Surfing the net cannot provide the live thrill viewers got each Friday in February 2011, as their TV screens simultaneously relayed the demonstrations in Tunis, Cairo, Tripoli, Sana’a and Manama like major sporting events. These will remain in the popular imagination of the region for years.”
— Yves Gonzalez-Quijano is Director of the Gremmo (Groupe de recherches et d’études sur la Méditerranée et le Moyen-Orient) and a professor at the University Lyon II
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“We didn’t even know before we entered the national contest what Eurovision was. But when we learned it meant playing for some 300 million people, we knew it was a good idea.”
— Renārs Kaupers is the lead singer of the Latvian pop/rock band Brainstorm
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Since 1997 TVN has been, through its dedicated programs, at the cutting edge of journalism, telling the stories of the lives of those less fortunately than most. Quickly the stories became so moving and poignant that it became our mission to not only use television as a way to tell their story, but as a way of helping to make their lives better. This has resulted in a TVN Foundation delivering over EUR 36 million to various charitable causes across Poland.”
— The TVN Foundation is a non-governmental fundraising organization providing support to people suffering from illness, poverty and loneliness.
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“TV is the quintessential emotional medium – no other medium can compare to TV in terms of building an emotional connection between brand and consumer. While other channels may create a more personal dialogue, more depth of information or more hands-on experience it is the ability of TV to form deep, long-held emotional brand associations that is its most unique and unassailable benefit.”
— Mainardo De Nardis is the Chief Executive Officer of OMD Worldwide
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“TV can reach broad audiences, mass audiences, niche audiences; it can be local, regional, national; it can be spots, sponsorship, interactive. It can be anything you want it to be. I tend to think of TV as the Swiss Army knife of media, it’s got something for everybody.”
— Nick Manning is the President International of Ebiquity plc
(Source: Thinkbox & World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“My novel The Island (originally written in England) was adapted two years’ ago into a 26-part television series by Mega TV and attracted a 70% audience share. I was a consultant on To Nisi (its Greek name) and worked with the all-Greek team of directors, actors and crew during the eighteen month production period. The quality of the end result was phenomenal, with 26-episodes made for the cost of one hour of American TV drama. It showed the depth of talent in Greece – from acting, cinematography and set design to music and make-up (a huge challenge, given that the subject matter of the story concerns the disease of leprosy). As well as Greece, the production has already been shown in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia and will soon be aired in Finland and Hungary – and no doubt further countries in the future.”
— Victoria Hislop is the author of ‘The Island’, the novel adapted into a TV series by Greece’s Mega TV
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Mad Men actually illustrates my point perfectly. It’s one of the shows everybody talks about and it proves that, suddenly, TV is the place. Five, six years ago we were that voice in the wilderness. Now X Factor has an audience of 19 million – that’s as big as Morecambe and Wise. Then Downton Abbey – suddenly everyone is going ‘Shit! People are watching TV!’”
— Sir John Hegarty is the Worldwide Creative Director of the creative advertising agency BBH
(Source: As quoted in an interview with the Guardian, 13 June 2011)
“Millions of people were inspired by the Apollo Program. I was five years old when I watched Apollo 11 unfold on television, and without any doubt it was a big contributor to my passions for science, engineering, and exploration. A year or so ago, I started to wonder, with the right team of undersea pros, could we find and potentially recover the F-1 engines that started mankind’s mission to the moon?”
— Jeff Bezos is the Chief Executive Officer of Amazon
(Source: www.redorbit.com)
“In the late 1980s, table tennis was nowhere to be found on television. And then came the live broadcast of the match between La Villette and Levallois, a heart-stirring ping pong game followed by hundreds of thousands of TV viewers for more than four hours on end! It certainly appealed to the viewers but, importantly, also to a handful of policymakers, and from that point onward live broadcasts of table tennis became a fact of Belgian TV. Those four hours of table tennis that are engraved in the history of Belgian sport also stand for the sharing of one of my main driving forces, namely passion!”
["A la fin des années '80, le tennis de table était totalement absent des écrans belges. Et puis il y eut cette retransmission du match entre La Villette et Levallois, un match palpitant suivi par des centaines de milliers de téléspectateurs pendant plus de ... 4 heures ! De quoi séduire à la fois un public mais surtout quelques décideurs, qui ont ensuite permis aux grands moments du tennis de table belge d'être diffusé en direct. Ces heures-là, gravées dans l'histoire du sport belge, représentent aussi pour moi le partage de ce qui a toujours été l'un de mes principaux moteurs : la passion !"]
— Jean-Michel Saive is a Belgian professional table tennis player
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television has been able to embrace music and image together. Without television, music will not be what it is nowadays.”
— Anggun Cipta Sasmi is an Indonesian and French singer, and songwriter
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Wouldn’t it in our best interest to know what the next big thing is? Wouldn’t we love to have a crystal ball, to see what will dominate our attention? And something that will be with us for sure for the next five, ten, perhaps if we call it right even for the next fifteen years? Well I think I actually do. And I think it’s an unexpected force that does take the digital world by storm and I guarantee will be the prime focus of all our professional lives for a number of years to come. … What is that thing? … For me … It’s just television. … It’s been around for more than fifty years. … TV is all about entertainment, engagement for you.”
— Salman Amin is Executive Vice President, Global Marketing & Chief Marketing Officer of Pepsico, one of the world’s leading brands
(Source: Festival of Media – Montreux 2012)
“When I was younger, I watched a great deal of television. This is actually how I truly discovered the Olympic Games. I felt genuine emotion when I watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics – it was as though I experienced the athletes’ own joys and sorrows. I looked up to them. They fuelled my appetite for success and my ambition to become an Olympian one day myself. It all paid off four years later, with the entire world watching me on their TV screens. I’m glad to have shared my medal and joy with them, and I hope this will push young people across the world to believe in their dreams and to pursue them, as I have.”
["Quand j'étais plus jeune, je regardais beaucoup la télévision, c'est d'ailleurs ainsi que j'ai vraiment découvert les Jeux Olympiques. C'etait comme réel j'avais l'impression de pouvoir ressentir les joies et les peines des athlètes lors des Jeux de pékin. Ils m'ont servi d'exemple, donné l'envie, la motivation de vouloir être un jour a leur place. 4 années plus tard, j'y suis je sais que le monde entier me regarde aussi derrière leur écran, et je suis ravie d'avoir partagé ma médaille, ma joie avec eux. Et j'espère que cela va pousser le jeune public du monde entier à croire en leur rêve et à les poursuivre comme j'ai pu le faire."]
— Priscilla Gneto is a French judoka, Olympic bronze medallist at the London 2012 Summer Olympics
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I believe TV has made the world a smaller place, bringing countries, cultures and beliefs closer together. This creates a feeling of one world with one people. A feeling which is much needed to overcome the current global challenges we are facing.”
— Founder, How Can I Be Social (HCIBS)
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I share the quote of the great former US-actress Bette Davis. She said once: TV is marvellous: Not only does it give you headaches – it also shows you advertising spots about the pills you have to take against them!”
— Ottmar Hitzfeld is Coach of the Swiss football team and a sports pundit for Sky
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Once upon a time there was a girl who dreamed of being an actress, although at the time she was working as a restaurant manager. She found her way into the world of TV through soap operas, and it was then that people started to recognise her, after becoming a TV host, a reality star and staring in the hugely successful series The Glass House on bTV in Bulgaria. Today she gives autographs to people on the streets. That’s the story of my life, I love it and adore TV!”
— Yana Marinova is an actress from Bulgaria
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“TV is a fundamental building block of the Brazilian nation. It ensures the cultural and linguistic unity of a country in which significant parts of the population are largely, if not entirely, illiterate, that is to say only managing to write down their own names. Since neither literature nor film has been able to reach the nation en masse, television has taken up that responsibility. In Brazil, TV’s responsibility is thus huge, when it comes to producing programs. This essentially means TV has to gradually mould the identity of a country still going through its phase of self-discovery or, rather, self-invention. We must not think of television as a business but as a very powerful component in the building of a collective unconscious. This is perhaps why Globo, our largest TV network, is nicknamed ‘The Dream Factory’.”
— Gregorio Duvivier is a Brazilian actor and screenwriter
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I do not take part in the politics, I watch what the politicians do and I report on what the politicians do and I might have a personal view about whether I think it’s right or wrong but primarily the role of foreign correspondents and journalists is to be there when it happens and to show what the repercussions are of politician’s decisions”.
— Alex Crawford is a Sky News special correspondent
(Source: An interview at the Media Guardian Edinburgh Television Festival, August 2011)
“Television always carried me: be it at my beginnings in small series and telefilms, or through my success in Kasamh Se and Bade Acche Lagte Hain. Thanks to TV, I saw an incredible dream come true: I could incarnate good and bad people, share my joys and pains with the audience, but also be part of this incredible medium that can educate and entertain at the same time! And with new TV platforms, the journey has only just started …”
— Ram Kapoor is an Indian television actor, awarded 15 times with prestigious national television awards
(Source: An interview at the Media Guardian Edinburgh Television Festival, August 2011)
“Anyone can cook if they put their mind to it, but how many can develop their culinary skills without spending much, discover new cooking techniques as well as recipes and learn about diet habits from around the world? Nowadays, it seems that everybody can do that through television. Since cooking shows have been integrated by TV stations to their programmes, people seem more and more interested in learning how to improve their nutrition. As a chef, I feel very fortunate that I was given the opportunity to be part of all this and to share my knowledge, not only with young and talented cooks, but also with every television viewer who is interested in quality food.”
— Giannis Loukakos has been a Judge on ‘MasterChef’ on the Greek TV station Mega Channel from 2010-2013
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“It is a fact that I owe my early fame as a musician – that is to say, as a classically-trained pianist and composer – to television. It is also by making television programmes that, several years onwards, I was able to draw the general public’s attention to classical music. With the success of my TV shows – some 150 to date – I’ve become a national voice of the Portuguese people, from high society to the lower orders and everyone in between. That said, and much to my sorrow, I do not believe that my shows, despite my continually promoting their educational merits, have contributed to greater availability of classical music, as the Portuguese have no access to this particular music. Even though 99% of the Portuguese refer to me as ‘Maestro’, they have no real knowledge of classical music, the reason being that it is deprived of public exposure. The onslaught of mainstream music, relentlessly forcing its way through every communication platform, means that wide distribution of classical music is virtually impossible. As such, it is my belief that 99% of the people who cross me in the street or otherwise actually think I am an archaeologist, as they are oblivious to the very existence of classical music.”
— António Victorino D`Almeida is a Portuguese musician and writer
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TV people talk TV!
TV personalities talk about their medium!
“In the digital era, while we offer our professional content on multiple screens, linear TV remains the leading medium. Television is an instantaneous and effective communications medium, and this position comes with certain responsibilities to society. It is our task and our honour to report on important events across the world, to drive debates and to encourage people to reflect. Today is a day to realise that TV is there for us and that we fulfil many social roles through creating and distributing programmes that inform, engage and entertain millions of people across the world.”
— Philippe Delusinne is the President of ACT and Chief Executive Officer of RTL Belgium
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“The digital r-evolution has allowed television to free itself from the constraints of time and space and to travel seamlessly from the living room to a multitude of screens, offering viewers of all ages, genders and nationalities a renewed and much richer experience around content and information when and wherever they want. These are exciting times for broadcasters; times when we reinvent, transform and add value to an activity that consumes the major part of most people’s days and when we consider how to best harness the great potential of both linear and on-line television to help develop attitudes and responses to the world we all inhabit.”
— Heikki Rotko is the President of egta and Chief Executive Officer of MTV Oy Finland
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“From the invention of the movable type press by Guttenberg in the 15th century until today, there has been a constant evolution of means of communication, bringing with it new forms of media. Within this new digital age, the evolution continues but it is not an evolution by which one media is replaced by another, but rather complemented by another. Each media form today has a comparative advantage of sorts, which guarantees its existence in the future. Within this context, social media and a more personalised consumption of media via the internet will continue to develop, but broadcast TV will always remain the dominant platform for live events and group viewing. Be it major live sporting events such as the Football World Cup or live news events such as the US Elections or the recent Arab Spring only TV has the power to mobilise emotions instantaneously among mass audiences. It is and shall remain the medium par excellence for people to simultaneously share their emotions and partake in the seminal events of our global village. It was the medium that took us to the moon and it will continue to inspire us today and in the future.”
— Jean-Paul Philippot is the President of European Broadcasting Union and Administrator-General of the RTBF
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“If we needed an example of the transformational power of television, then the London 2012 Paralympics would surely fit the bill. This point was brought home to me when my colleagues and I received several moving letters and e-mails from viewers who are disabled themselves or are parents of disabled children. They explained how television helped broaden their on-screen relationship with the Paralympic athletes – a relationship based on generosity and the authenticity of their talents, with positive images, memories and experiences galore. Thanks to Channel 4 and commercially-funded television, the full potential of the Paralympics was realised as it changed public perception of disability and disabled sport.”
— David Abraham is the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom’s Channel 4
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Newscasts have played a significant role in recent decades. On the political level, they have become both an indispensable forum and an active place of fruitful discussions for all electoral events. Not as a means of manipulating public opinion but, in my view, as an information tool, governed by strict rules of impartiality. At the international level, certain images of conflict have winged their way around the world, thus raising awareness and at times compelling leaders to take action. This was the case, for instance, for the war in former Yugoslavia and the subsequent intervention of NATO. Through its decisive power, television has become, whether one likes it or not, the premier source of information, and it is this very power that compels journalists to show uncompromising respect for the journalistic code of ethics.”
["Les Journaux Télévisés ont joué un rôle considérable au cours des dernières décennies. Sur le plan politique, ils sont devenus une tribune incontournable et un lieu de débats fructueux pour tous les rendez-vous électoraux. Non pas un moyen de manipulation de l’opinion, mais, à mon sens, un instrument d’information, encadré par de strictes règles d’impartialité. Sur le plan international, certaines images de conflits, en faisant le tour du monde, ont provoqué une véritable prise de conscience, et ont même parfois forcé les dirigeants à l’action. Ce fut le cas par exemple pour la guerre dans l’ex-Yougoslavie et l’intervention de l’OTAN. Par sa puissance, la télévision est devenue, qu’on le veuille ou non, le 1er moyen d’information, et c’est cette puissance même qui impose à ses journalistes un respect intransigeant de la déontologie."]
— Claire Chazal is a French journalist and director of news on TF1
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? lives by the diversity of its contestants, so television is constantly new and surprising for me.”
— Günther Jauch is a leading television personality and host of the German version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“In the beginning man walked on the moon, as author Jonas Gardell put it. The first great memories of my generation were born on the television screen. The more modern computer I understand, or attempt to understand, with my mind, but I will always primarily understand television with my heart. Television is the altar of my generation.”
— Peter Nyman is the anchorman for Finland’s leading TV channel, MTV3
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“News is my life, TV is my medium – and I love it!”
— Peter Kloeppel is Editor in Chief of RTL Television and anchorman of ‘RTL Aktuell’
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“When I was a child I loved TV series like The Fall Guy and Magnum and of course I wanted to become a private investigator, too. Later when I started watching the major Saturday night shows, I realised that I wanted to become a host – and that’s my job today. I would say that TV influenced me in a positive and sustainable way.”
— Sebastian Höffner is a moderator on Sky TV in Germany
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“When the [Mubarak] government brought down the internet and [bloggers] could not send anything, Al Jazeera and other broadcasters … picked up the coverage. The coverage started with the bloggers and internet activists but it was amplified and sent to everyone’s home through traditional screens and mainstream media.”
— Wadah Khanfar was the Director General of Al Jazeera until 2011
(Source: Al Jazeera and the Arab Spring, Chatham House, 19 January 2012)
“If you are not aware of the news, you don’t know your place within the world. And if you don’t know what’s going on around you, you can’t help others.”
— István Szellő presents the news on RTL Klub, one of Hungary’s leading television stations
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“As a junior reporter, I would always say that I was not ‘making television’ but that I was a journalist who appeared ‘on television’ and that TV was interchangeable with radio or print media. But that was a misjudgement on my part, because television is not radio (which I love), television is not print media, and this is perhaps how it changed my life. I was born in the early 60s, which makes me a TV native, as opposed to the digital natives of today. Whereas for young people today everything involves the internet, television was the quintessential medium of my generation, what it was all about. I always knew this but only gradually admitted it: its impact, the power of images, how it magnifies tenfold a message compared with other media … and then, one day, the baker recognises you. Some will say that they don’t care – that’s a lot of swank. It makes you happy, you feel as proud as punch! So yes, television has changed my life by making it more exciting, and I am grateful for that.”
["Quand j’étais débutant j’aimais à dire que je ne faisais pas « de télévision », mais que j’étais journaliste « à la télévision », et que cela aurait été la même chose à la radio ou dans un journal. Mais c’était une erreur, la télévision ce n’est ni la radio (que j’adore), ni la presse écrite, et c’est peut-être en ça qu’elle a changé ma vie. Né au début des années 60, je suis un « TV native », comme on parle aujourd’hui de « Digital native ». Si pour un jeune d’aujourd’hui tout passe par le net, pour ceux de ma génération la télévision était le média de référence, l’aboutissement. Je le savais mais je ne l’ai admis que progressivement. La puissance, la force de l’image, le message décuplé par rapport aux autres médias... et puis bien sûr, un jour, la boulangère qui vous reconnaît. Certains vous diront qu’ils s’en moquent... C’est de l’esbroufe, ça fait plaisir, on se sent fier comme Artaban ! Alors oui, la télévision a changé ma vie en la rendant plus passionnante, et je lui en suis reconnaissant."]
— Christophe Giltay is a reporter for Belgium’s RTL-TVI
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“When I did my first TV piece I knew: This is it! And until today, nothing has changed. TV enables us to quench our thirst for knowledge – in a colourful and entertaining way.”
— Sarah Valentina Winkhaus hosts the Sky production ‘Kinopolis’ in Germany
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I use television as a modern mirror that allows people to better understand and, as such, boost their self-image. This way, they can play up their best assets. Television is a way for me to convey my optimism to people and bring them hope and joy.”
["J'utilise la télévision comme un miroir moderne qui permet aux gens de mieux comprendre leur image afin de l'améliorer, et ainsi mettre en valeur le meilleur d'eux-mêmes .C'est pour moi une façon de leur communiquer mon optimisme et leur donner de l'espoir et de la joie."]
— Cristina Cordula hosts, amongst others, ‘Nouveau look pour une nouvelle vie’ on the French channel M6 and ‘Magnifique by Cristina’ on Téva
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television has been, for me, a window onto the wider world. As a teenager I was fascinated by TV presenter Philippe de Dieuleveult. He was the host of French game show series La Chasse Aux Trésors (The Treasure Hunt). In the series, he would travel the world and show live footage of his unlikely encounters with distant populations. This made me want to travel. Today, television is still that gateway to the world, and it makes those who are unable to travel become aware – albeit not wholly – of the world surrounding us.”
["La télévision a été pour moi une fenêtre qui s’ouvrait sur le monde. Quand j’étais adolescent, j’étais fasciné par l’animateur français Philippe de Dieuleveult qui dans « la chasse aux trésors » parcourait le monde et nous offrait, en direct, des rencontres improbables avec les peuples de pays lointains. Cela m’a donné l’envie de voyager. Aujourd’hui, la télévision reste cette fenêtre ouverte sur le monde et permet à ceux qui ne peuvent voyager d’avoir conscience de la réalité, certes partielle, du monde qui nous entoure."]
— Michel De Maegd presents the news on RTL Belgium
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I like television and even prefer producing television programmes to watching the telly. The fact that millions expect us to announce the news items evening by evening is one of the biggest things in our profession, and this huge publicity has made it possible for me to talk about my favourite subject: diabetes.”
— Antonia Erős hosts the news on RTL Klub in Hungary
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“My motto: ‘Respect the viewers who care enough to watch your shows’. TV is both an angel and a demon, it can lie or speak the truth. I am committed to upholding moral values in my professional endeavours.”
["Respecter ceux qui nous regardent" est ma devise. La télévision est un ange et un démon, elle peut mentir ou parler vrai. J'ai à cœur de mettre de l'éthique dans ce que j'entreprends professionnellement.'']
— Karine Le Marchand, Presenter of ‘L’Amour Est Dans Le Pré’ (‘Farmer Wants A Wife’) on M6
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television in my life has played a pivotal role from early childhood – it is a normal part of everyone’s life. Over time you start to perceive television differently – my perception developed when I started to study a television-related field, and again after I started working in television and had the chance to witness it from behind the scenes. It is exciting to be at the source of information, to participate in major projects and to communicate that information to people, especially through live broadcasting. It is amazing to see how the news is made and how television works from the inside.”
— Lucie Borhyová in a news anchor on TV Nova
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“TV is fascinating – at its best moments it is the campfire of our generation. And I’m allowed to be the storyteller by its side. That is fantastic.”
— Steven Gätjen is the moderator of ‘Schlag den Raab’ on ProSieben
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Hello, I’m Birgit Schuurman and I think television is the perfect medium to make us aware that there is more than just our own life.”
— Birgit Schuurman is a host on RTL Nederland
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“The most important thing for me is the fact that you never lose the thrill of entertaining people, and you never have a 100% guarantee of the final product. There is a reason why we call media the fourth estate! The feeling of holding this force in your hands is indescribable.”
— Victoria Terziiska is an actress and presenter of ‘The Voice’ on bTV Bulgaria
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Each day I’m very proud and honoured to be in the homes of people via TV and to share our emotions & stories. I think it brings us closer together.”
— Pernille La Lau is a host on RTL Nederland
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Hi my name is Quinty Trustfull and I’m host on Dutch television, and I think that television is a huge inspiration for a lot of people.”
— Quinty Trustfull is a host on RTL Nederland
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
What they say about television…
Influential personalities in the world of politics, social advocacy, sports, culture, entertainment and media share their experiences on how television has contributed to their career or to the promotion of their cause.
(In alphabetical order)
“Television can be a tremendous force for good. It can educate great numbers of people about the world around them. It can show us how much we have in common with our neighbours, near and far. And, it can shed light on the dark corners, where ignorance and hatred fester. The television industry is also in a unique position to promote mutual understanding and tolerance – with content that tells the stories not just about the powerful, but about the powerless, and not just about life in the world’s richest pockets, but also in the developing countries that are home to the majority of the world’s population.”
— Kofi Annan was Secretary General of the United Nations between 1997 and 2006
(Source: World Television Day message, 21 November 2003)
“Television has brought the political life into everyone’s living room and made politics a fixed part of everyday life, therefore enhancing and spreading democracy in ways no other medium before could even come close to. The internet and new media have taken over some of these important responsibilities and pushed the dissemination of democracy to the next level. However, I strongly believe that television and online media are not only complementary, but will eventually merge. Already television has transformed the world forever, but I think that its potentials are still far from exhausted.”
— Heinz K. Becker is a Member of the European Parliament
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I personally believe that television is a very influential form of media because it is a standard gateway of knowledge and information for the masses. It allows for the preservation of cultural diversity both at a local and a global level and provides for the introduction of other customs and languages. The best example that television removes boundaries is the fact that when I was on a delegation to Turkmenistan, people in the market from Ashkhabad recognised my language because their favourite TV channel was a Polish music channel. Television is a great source, not only of entertainment but also of education. I strongly believe that it is a great tool to promote standards of behaviour and democracy, which is very important from the point of view of the European Union activities.”
— Piotr Borys is a Member of the European Parliament
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“My entire life as a professional athlete and public figure is closely connected to television. I remember how the power of TV drove the evolution of the Olympic Games from a relatively large-scale event into the biggest spectacle for billions of viewers all over the planet, into a huge business and into big-time politics. As a player in the NHL, I felt the influence of television, its amazing power to create stars and destroy them just the same. Working as a minister in Russia on a sports development program, I was the first to call for the creation of a public sports television channel. I am sure that the future of our children depends to a great extent on realising the educational potential of television.”
— Vyacheslav Fetisov, two-time Olympic champion, three-time Stanley Cup winner, Senator
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Europe is at a crossroads and we must decide now in which direction we want to take it: towards more or less integration. In my view, there is only one direction: a strong, united Europe. This means we must all respect the core European values, i.e. the free movement of persons and workers, and the free flow and exchange of information. Television in particular has a responsibility to bring forth solidarity across Europe, and it is my belief that it can, will and does so on all accounts.”
— Iliana Ivanova is a Bulgarian Member of the European Parliament and economist
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television, as one of today’s most powerful communications media, has a key role to play in raising citizens’ awareness about significant national and international concerns and challenges. TV is a real window on the changing world, on other civilisations. Television needs to take advantage of its strength in a fair, pluralistic way, while respecting human rights and universal values. In modern times, given the consequences of the serious economic crisis as well as the need for stability and peace in many regions of the world, its role becomes even more crucial”
— Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou is a MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament (2007-2012)
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“We now live in an amazing digital world, and television is firmly part of that brave new world. Television is still the way to reach the most citizens and talk to them – and with them – about how the EU affects their lives. It’s still the way to bring people together – to laugh, to debate, to learn. In a world that takes a faster and faster pace, it is nice to know you can slow down once in a while with a good TV programme.”
— Neelie Kroes is responsible for the Digital Agenda for Europe
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television is a tremendously powerful communications tool for building common understanding, dispelling myths and shedding light on global issues. The United Nations itself produces features, packages for broadcasters and live coverage of events to get its message out to the world. The UN Department of Public Information applauds the global celebration of World Television Day, and welcomes the chance to work with broadcasters to ensure that this great communications tool can benefit all of humanity.”
— Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal is the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information at the United Nations
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit 516484 – UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe)
“At the end of the day, all politics, whether at EU or national level, exist for the people: for our 500 million citizens living in the European Union. We need strong and independent media to raise awareness and report about successes and challenges facing the European Union. Television in particular, with its emotional power that allows viewers to explore, to empathise, to engage, is one of the cornerstones that make our democracies work. Images speak louder than words. I will continue counting on television to inform our citizens and unite them across borders. This is what Europe is about.”
— Viviane Reding is responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Freedom of expression and information is one of the most basic rights of the EU, as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It is a prerequisite to preserving our political liberties. That is why media freedom is taken consistently on board in our bilateral relations and agreements, particularly with developing countries. As it happens, the EU is paying close attention to the consolidation of media freedom in the post-Arab Spring countries, where we are intransigent in upholding and advocating the highest standards of television service. Evidently, if we have managed to safeguard this freedom, it is because journalists have risked their lives in providing us with uncensored facts and images. For the sake of European integration, we must embrace television, and other forms of media, in order to build our shared future where press freedom can continue to flourish.”
— Martin Schultz is the President of the European Parliament
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit European Parliament)
“Without TV – politics would stop. New fresh impulses, ideas and political parties would not have a chance without TV. Before, crowds would gather in big parks to listen: today these are replaced by TVs. TV has finally made the world round for real!”
— Alf Svensson is a Member of the European Parliament, former Swedish Minister for Development and Human Rights and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“As a frequent participant in Spanish politics TV shows, I believe that television offers a unique forum for the communication of new ideas, discussion of current events and the fostering of healthy debate. Many a politician embarked upon his or her career due in part to what they had seen on television. TV prevents us from living in isolation with only our own opinions and, used wisely, can provide a window onto the world in which we live. In particular, news programmes enable us to reach an unprecedented level of awareness about the lives of those in other parts of the world.”
— Alejo Vidal-Quadras is a Spanish MEP and the Vice-President of the European Parliament
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“One of the cornerstones of democracy is unrestricted access to information. The pluralism of TV channels is one of its indispensible and essential elements.”
[„Jednym z najważniejszych elementów demokracji jest swobodny dostęp do informacji. Pluralizm kanałów telewizyjnych jest jego niezbędnym i podstawowym elementem.”]
“It all came from there,” Lech Wałęsa, said, pointing to a TV when a reporter asked him why communism fell.
— Lech Wałęsa was President of Poland between 1990 and 1995, a Noble Peace Prize winner and co-founder of Solidarity, the Soviet bloc’s first independent trade union
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
What they say about television …
Influential personalities in the world of politics, social advocacy, sports, culture, entertainment and media share their experiences on how television has contributed to their career or to the promotion of their cause.
(In alphabetical order)
“People around me tell me that the live broadcast (both on TV and on the Internet) of my mission to the edge of space and of my record-breaking freefall jump from 23 miles above the earth offered a unique and magic moment to millions of people around the world … They say that witnessing live my breaking the speed of sound, protected only by a space suit made it possible for so many people to start believing that it is possible to push the limits of what one once thought was impossible … That those images allowed children and adults alike to share my dream or to simply start dreaming for themselves … and that they arouse for thousands an interest in science, physics, speed, extreme sports, etc. This makes me feel very fortunate …”
— Felix Baumgartner set the world record for skydiving and became the first person to break the sound barrier without vehicular power on his descent
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT- Photo: Credit Red Bull Content Pull)
“When I was younger I spent a lot of time playing sport and trying to copy the skills I saw famous sportsmen do on TV. In 2008 my performances in the Olympic Games in Beijing were broadcast to millions of people all over the world. I won three gold medals and broke three world records. At the 2012 Olympics I defended my titles and set another world record. Nowadays no matter where I go in the world people know me from watching me run on TV. I hope that my hard work and determination will inspire and mobilise young audiences worldwide to follow their dreams or to simply always aim higher to achieve their goals.”
— Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt is a five-time world champion and six-time Olympic gold medallist
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit PACE Sports Management)
“If we humans want to feel good, we must indulge in intense positive emotions. Television is a force among many others for scattering light, one that allows us to conjure up dreams from the living room. Through televised sports, we can spend buzzing moments at home and relate to athletes’ achievements – a source of both joy and pride.”
[''L'homme pour se sentir bien doit vivre des émotions positives intenses. La télévision est un des vecteurs importants qui transportent la lumière et donne le rêve à domicile. Par l'intermédiaire du sport, les hommes peuvent chez eux vivre des vibrations intenses et s'approprier le succès source de joie, de fierté.'']
— Jacques Borlée is a former Belgian athlete and European Athletics Coach of the Year 2011
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT- Photo: Credit RTBF)
“How TV coverage of Paralympians is contributing to a more inclusive society? Paralympic athletes have the ability to change the world. Their amazing performances and incredible stories teach the values of acceptance and appreciation for people with an impairment. They can change how people think about think about themselves and how they think about others contributing towards a more inclusive and equitable society. Such transformation is only possible however if people are able to see the athletes’ performances. This has not always been the case. The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome, Italy in 1960, however it was not until the 1992 Barcelona Games that they started to receive widespread TV coverage. Since 1992, and coinciding with increasing amounts of TV coverage, the Paralympics have developed an excellent track record for changing attitudes and perceptions of people with an impairment. The recent London 2012 Games attracted a record 2.72 million spectators all of whom were inspired by what they saw in the venues. However, far more people were left inspired and touched by what they saw on television. London 2012 was broadcast to over 115 different countries and territories reaching a cumulated TV audience of 3.8 billion people. They enjoyed what they saw. The Paralympics Games are unique in that they can put spectators and TV viewers through every single emotion, including ones we never thought we had. Post Games research conducted in Great Britain has revealed that 81% of people believe London 2012 had a positive impact on the way they view a person with an impairment. A further 65% said the Games were a breakthrough to viewing people with an impairment – up from 40% in June 2010. Not all the people surveyed were lucky enough to get a ticket to see the London Games. Most will have watched on TV. Thanks to TV coverage of Paralympic Games and other major international events, the Paralympic Movement is helping to build a bridge which links sport with social awareness. Long may it continue!”
— Sir Philip Craven is a former athlete and the current President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit IPC)
“My entire life as a professional athlete and public figure is closely connected to television. I remember how the power of TV drove the evolution of the Olympic Games from a relatively large-scale event into the biggest spectacle for billions of viewers all over the planet, into a huge business and into big-time politics. As a player in the NHL, I felt the influence of television, its amazing power to create stars and destroy them just the same. Working as a minister in Russia on a sports development program, I was the first to call for the creation of a public sports television channel. I am sure that the future of our children depends to a great extent on realising the educational potential of television.”
— Vyacheslav Fetisov, two-time Olympic champion, three-time Stanley Cup winner, Senator
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“When I was younger, I watched a great deal of television. This is actually how I truly discovered the Olympic Games. I felt genuine emotion when I watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics – it was as though I experienced the athletes’ own joys and sorrows. I looked up to them. They fuelled my appetite for success and my ambition to become an Olympian one day myself. It all paid off four years later, with the entire world watching me on their TV screens. I’m glad to have shared my medal and joy with them, and I hope this will push young people across the world to believe in their dreams and to pursue them, as I have.”
["Quand j'étais plus jeune, je regardais beaucoup la télévision, c'est d'ailleurs ainsi que j'ai vraiment découvert les Jeux Olympiques. C'etait comme réel j'avais l'impression de pouvoir ressentir les joies et les peines des athlètes lors des Jeux de pékin. Ils m'ont servi d'exemple, donné l'envie, la motivation de vouloir être un jour a leur place. 4 années plus tard, j'y suis je sais que le monde entier me regarde aussi derrière leur écran, et je suis ravie d'avoir partagé ma médaille, ma joie avec eux. Et j'espère que cela va pousser le jeune public du monde entier à croire en leur rêve et à les poursuivre comme j'ai pu le faire."]
— Priscilla Gneto is a French judoka, Olympic bronze medallist at the London 2012 Summer Olympics
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“When I was young I dreamed of becoming a champion … I watched a great deal of sports on television. It has truly been a driving force for me. Thanks to the images I saw on TV, I connected with my idols in my living room … In turn, I have been able to convey the values of sport to young people: courage, perseverance, determination … I am very pleased to know that – thanks to television – I was able to engage the emotions of people, unite an entire nation to behind me and motivate every generation.”
["Petite, j’avais un rêve, celui de devenir une championne… Je regardais énormément le sport à la télévision. Ça a véritablement été un moteur pour moi. Je vibrais avec mes idoles grâce à toutes ces images… A mon tour, j’ai pu transmettre aux jeunes les valeurs du sport : courage, persévérance, volonté,… Grâce à la télévision, je suis très heureuse d’avoir pu transmettre des émotions aux gens, d’avoir réuni tout un peuple derrière moi et d’avoir motivé toute les générations."]
— Justine Henin is a Belgian tennis player, Olympic champion and former World No. 1.
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I share the quote of the great former US-actress Bette Davis. She said once: TV is marvellous: Not only does it give you headaches – it also shows you advertising spots about the pills you have to take against them!”
— Ottmar Hitzfeld is Coach of the Swiss football team and a sports pundit for Sky
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Until quite recently, sliding sports were not so well known by people at large, while it represented a passion for many young people. I believe that thanks to television, we were able to bring rollerblading and other ramp sports into people’s living rooms, by broadcasting spectacular shows and promoting the values of sport: healthy lifestyle, perseverance, team spirit, fair play, overcoming your own limitations, a sense of responsibility, striving to achieve goals for yourself and the community. Beating records in live shows and participating or hosting sports programmes was the best way for me to share my passion and bring the spirit of rollerblading to millions of youngsters out there, looking for inspiration and role models. Without the power of television, I couldn’t have jumped from the Eifel Tower in rollerblades, reaching live more than 1 million people on what is usually a French niche-channel (W9), but also aired live on 167 other channels across the world. Shows like Extreme Adventure, of which I am the host now, is a great example of how television can widen your horizon by mixing culture and adrenaline.”
— Taïg Khris is the World Champion of rollerblading and a television host on W9, MCM and Extreme Sports Channel
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“In the late 1980s, table tennis was nowhere to be found on television. And then came the live broadcast of the match between La Villette and Levallois, a heart-stirring ping pong game followed by hundreds of thousands of TV viewers for more than four hours on end! It certainly appealed to the viewers but, importantly, also to a handful of policymakers, and from that point onward live broadcasts of table tennis became a fact of Belgian TV. Those four hours of table tennis that are engraved in the history of Belgian sport also stand for the sharing of one of my main driving forces, namely passion!”
["A la fin des années '80, le tennis de table était totalement absent des écrans belges. Et puis il y eut cette retransmission du match entre La Villette et Levallois, un match palpitant suivi par des centaines de milliers de téléspectateurs pendant plus de ... 4 heures ! De quoi séduire à la fois un public mais surtout quelques décideurs, qui ont ensuite permis aux grands moments du tennis de table belge d'être diffusé en direct. Ces heures-là, gravées dans l'histoire du sport belge, représentent aussi pour moi le partage de ce qui a toujours été l'un de mes principaux moteurs : la passion !"]
— Jean-Michel Saive is a Belgian professional table tennis player
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“It’s the media – television included, evidently – that bring Formula One to the living rooms of fans, followers and motorsport enthusiasts alike, making us F1 pilots widely known in the process.”
[„Die Medien an sich, natürlich auch das Fernsehen eingeschlossen, sind diejenigen, die uns in die Wohnzimmer unserer Interessierten, Fans und Motorsportbegeisterten bringen und uns damit natürlich bekannt machen."]
— Michael Schumacher is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
What they say about television …
Influential personalities in the world of politics, social advocacy, sports, culture, entertainment and media share their experiences on how television has contributed to their career or to the promotion of their cause.
(In alphabetical order)
“If we needed an example of the transformational power of television, then the London 2012 Paralympics would surely fit the bill. This point was brought home to me when my colleagues and I received several moving letters and e-mails from viewers who are disabled themselves or are parents of disabled children. They explained how television helped broaden their on-screen relationship with the Paralympic athletes – a relationship based on generosity and the authenticity of their talents, with positive images, memories and experiences galore. Thanks to Channel 4 and commercially-funded television, the full potential of the Paralympics was realised as it changed public perception of disability and disabled sport.”
— David Abraham is the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom’s Channel 4
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“And I believe that good journalism, good television, can make our world a better place.”
— Christiane Amanpour is Chief International Correspondent for CNN
(Source: Keynote Speech at the Edward R. Murrow Awards Ceremony, Minneapolis: 13 September, 2000)
“Wouldn’t it in our best interest to know what the next big thing is? Wouldn’t we love to have a crystal ball, to see what will dominate our attention? And something that will be with us for sure for the next five, ten, perhaps if we call it right even for the next fifteen years? Well I think I actually do. And I think it’s an unexpected force that does take the digital world by storm and I guarantee will be the prime focus of all our professional lives for a number of years to come. … What is that thing? … For me … It’s just television. … It’s been around for more than 50 years. … TV is all about entertainment, engagement for you.”
— Salman Amin is Executive Vice President, Global Marketing & Chief Marketing Officer of Pepsico, one of the world’s leading brands
(Source: Festival of Media – Montreux 2012)
“Millions of people were inspired by the Apollo Program. I was five years old when I watched Apollo 11 unfold on television, and without any doubt it was a big contributor to my passions for science, engineering, and exploration. A year or so ago, I started to wonder, with the right team of undersea pros, could we find and potentially recover the F-1 engines that started mankind’s mission to the moon?”
— Jeff Bezos is the Chief Executive Officer of Amazon
(Source: www.redorbit.com)
“Television in my life has played a pivotal role from early childhood – it is a normal part of everyone’s life. Over time you start to perceive television differently – my perception developed when I started to study a television-related field, and again after I started working in television and had the chance to witness it from behind the scenes. It is exciting to be at the source of information, to participate in major projects and to communicate that information to people, especially through live broadcasting. It is amazing to see how the news is made and how television works from the inside.”
— Lucie Borhyová in a news anchor on TV Nova
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Newscasts have played a significant role in recent decades. On the political level, they have become both an indispensable forum and an active place of fruitful discussions for all electoral events. Not as a means of manipulating public opinion but, in my view, as an information tool, governed by strict rules of impartiality. At the international level, certain images of conflict have winged their way around the world, thus raising awareness and at times compelling leaders to take action. This was the case, for instance, for the war in former Yugoslavia and the subsequent intervention of NATO. Through its decisive power, television has become, whether one likes it or not, the premier source of information, and it is this very power that compels journalists to show uncompromising respect for the journalistic code of ethics.”
["Les Journaux Télévisés ont joué un rôle considérable au cours des dernières décennies. Sur le plan politique, ils sont devenus une tribune incontournable et un lieu de débats fructueux pour tous les rendez-vous électoraux. Non pas un moyen de manipulation de l’opinion, mais, à mon sens, un instrument d’information, encadré par de strictes règles d’impartialité. Sur le plan international, certaines images de conflits, en faisant le tour du monde, ont provoqué une véritable prise de conscience, et ont même parfois forcé les dirigeants à l’action. Ce fut le cas par exemple pour la guerre dans l’ex-Yougoslavie et l’intervention de l’OTAN. Par sa puissance, la télévision est devenue, qu’on le veuille ou non, le 1er moyen d’information, et c’est cette puissance même qui impose à ses journalistes un respect intransigeant de la déontologie."]
— Claire Chazal is a French journalist and director of news on TF1
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I use television as a modern mirror that allows people to better understand and, as such, boost their self-image. This way, they can play up their best assets. Television is a way for me to convey my optimism to people and bring them hope and joy.”
["J'utilise la télévision comme un miroir moderne qui permet aux gens de mieux comprendre leur image afin de l'améliorer, et ainsi mettre en valeur le meilleur d'eux-mêmes .C'est pour moi une façon de leur communiquer mon optimisme et leur donner de l'espoir et de la joie."]
— Cristina Cordula hosts, amongst others, ‘Nouveau look pour une nouvelle vie’ on the French channel M6 and ‘Magnifique by Cristina’ on Téva
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I do not take part in the politics, I watch what the politicians do and I report on what the politicians do and I might have a personal view about whether I think it’s right or wrong but primarily the role of foreign correspondents and journalists is to be there when it happens and to show what the repercussions are of politician’s decisions”.
— Alex Crawford is a Sky News special correspondent
(Source: An interview at the Media Guardian Edinburgh Television Festival, August 2011)
“In the digital era, while we offer our professional content on multiple screens, linear TV remains the leading medium. Television is an instantaneous and effective communications medium, and with this position comes certain responsibilities to society. It is our task and our honour to report on important events across the world, to drive debates and to encourage people to reflect. Today is a day to realise that TV is there for us and that we fulfil many social roles through creating and distributing programmes that inform, engage and entertain millions of people across the world.”
— Philippe Delusinne is the President of ACT & the Chief Executive Officer of RTL Belgium
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television has been, for me, a window onto the wider world. As a teenager I was fascinated by TV presenter Philippe de Dieuleveult. He was the host of French game show series La Chasse Aux Trésors (The Treasure Hunt). In the series, he would travel the world and show live footage of his unlikely encounters with distant populations. This made me want to travel. Today, television is still that gateway to the world, and it makes those who are unable to travel become aware – albeit not wholly – of the world surrounding us.”
["La télévision a été pour moi une fenêtre qui s’ouvrait sur le monde. Quand j’étais adolescent, j’étais fasciné par l’animateur français Philippe de Dieuleveult qui dans « la chasse aux trésors » parcourait le monde et nous offrait, en direct, des rencontres improbables avec les peuples de pays lointains. Cela m’a donné l’envie de voyager. Aujourd’hui, la télévision reste cette fenêtre ouverte sur le monde et permet à ceux qui ne peuvent voyager d’avoir conscience de la réalité, certes partielle, du monde qui nous entoure."]
— Michel De Maegd presents the news on RTL Belgium
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“TV is the quintessential emotional medium – no other medium can compare to TV in terms of building an emotional connection between brand and consumer. While other channels may create a more personal dialogue, more depth of information or more hands-on experience it is the ability of TV to form deep, long-held emotional brand associations that is its most unique and unassailable benefit.”
— Mainardo De Nardis is the Chief Executive Officer of OMD Worldwide
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“I like television and even prefer producing television programmes to watching the telly. The fact that millions expect us to announce the news items evening by evening is one of the biggest things in our profession, and this huge publicity has made it possible for me to talk about my favourite subject: diabetes.”
— Antonia Erős hosts the news on RTL Klub in Hungary
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“TV is fascinating – at its best moments it is the campfire of our generation. And I’m allowed to be the storyteller by its side. That is fantastic.”
— Steven Gätjen is the Moderator of “Schlag den Raab” on ProSieben
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“As a junior reporter, I would always say that I was not ‘making television’ but that I was a journalist who appeared ‘on television’ and that TV was interchangeable with radio or print media. But that was a misjudgement on my part, because television is not radio (which I love), television is not print media, and this is perhaps how it changed my life. I was born in the early 60s, which makes me a TV native, as opposed to the digital natives of today. Whereas for young people today everything involves the internet, television was the quintessential medium of my generation, what it was all about. I always knew this but only gradually admitted it: its impact, the power of images, how it magnifies tenfold a message compared with other media … and then, one day, the baker recognises you. Some will say that they don’t care – that’s a lot of swank. It makes you happy, you feel as proud as punch! So yes, television has changed my life by making it more exciting, and I am grateful for that.”
[Quand j’étais débutant j’aimais à dire que je ne faisais pas « de télévision », mais que j’étais journaliste « à la télévision », et que cela aurait été la même chose à la radio ou dans un journal. Mais c’était une erreur, la télévision ce n’est ni la radio (que j’adore), ni la presse écrite, et c’est peut-être en ça qu’elle a changé ma vie. Né au début des années 60, je suis un « TV native », comme on parle aujourd’hui de « Digital native ». Si pour un jeune d’aujourd’hui tout passe par le net, pour ceux de ma génération la télévision était le média de référence, l’aboutissement. Je le savais mais je ne l’ai admis que progressivement. La puissance, la force de l’image, le message décuplé par rapport aux autres médias... et puis bien sûr, un jour, la boulangère qui vous reconnaît. Certains vous diront qu’ils s’en moquent... C’est de l’esbroufe, ça fait plaisir, on se sent fier comme Artaban ! Alors oui, la télévision a changé ma vie en la rendant plus passionnante, et je lui en suis reconnaissant."]
— Christophe Giltay is a reporter for Belgium’s RTL-TVI
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Mad Men actually illustrates my point perfectly. It’s one of the shows everybody talks about and it proves that, suddenly, TV is the place. Five, six years ago we were that voice in the wilderness. Now X Factor has an audience of 19 million – that’s as big as Morecambe and Wise. Then Downton Abbey – suddenly everyone is going ‘Shit! People are watching TV!’”
— Sir John Hegarty is the Worldwide Creative Director of the creative advertising agency BBH
(Source: As quoted in an interview with the Guardian, 13 June 2011)
“I believe TV has made the world a smaller place, bringing countries, cultures and beliefs closer together. This creates a feeling of one world with one people. A feeling which is much needed to overcome the current global challenges we are facing.”
— Founder, How Can I Be Social (HCIBS)
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“When I was a child I loved TV series like The Fall Guy and Magnum and of course I wanted to become a private investigator, too. Later when I started watching the major Saturday night shows, I realised that I wanted to become a host – and that’s my job today. I would say that TV influenced me in a positive and sustainable way.”
— Sebastian Höffner is a moderator on Sky TV in Germany
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? lives by the diversity of its contestants, so television is constantly new and surprising for me.”
— Günther Jauch is a leading television personality and host of the German version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“When the [Mubarak] government brought down the internet and [bloggers] could not send anything, Al Jazeera and other broadcasters … picked up the coverage. The coverage started with the bloggers and internet activists but it was amplified and sent to everyone’s home through traditional screens and mainstream media.”
— Wadah Khanfar was the Director General of Al Jazeera until 2011
(Source: Al Jazeera and the Arab Spring, Chatham House, 19 January 2012)
“Until quite recently, sliding sports were not so well known by people at large, while it represented a passion for many young people. I believe that thanks to television, we were able to bring rollerblading and other ramp sports into people’s living rooms, by broadcasting spectacular shows and promoting the values of sport: healthy lifestyle, perseverance, team spirit, fair play, overcoming your own limitations, a sense of responsibility, striving to achieve goals for yourself and the community. Beating records in live shows and participating or hosting sports programmes was the best way for me to share my passion and bring the spirit of rollerblading to millions of youngsters out there, looking for inspiration and role models. Without the power of television, I couldn’t have jumped from the Eifel Tower in rollerblades, reaching live more than 1 million people on what is usually a French niche-channel (W9), but also aired live on 167 other channels across the world. Shows like Extreme Adventure, of which I am the host now, is a great example of how television can widen your horizon by mixing culture and adrenaline.”
— Taïg Khris is the World Champion of rollerblading and a television host on W9, MCM and Extreme Sports Channel
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“News is my life, TV is my medium – and I love it!”
— Peter Kloeppel is Editor in Chief of RTL Television and anchorman of ‘RTL Aktuell’
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Each day I’m very proud and honoured to be in the homes of people via TV and to share our emotions & stories. I think it brings us closer together.”
— Pernille La Lau is a host on RTL Nederland
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Anyone can cook if they put their mind to it, but how many can develop their culinary skills without spending much, discover new cooking techniques as well as recipes and learn about diet habits from around the world? Nowadays, it seems that everybody can do that through television. Since cooking shows have been integrated by TV stations to their programmes, people seem more and more interested in learning how to improve their nutrition. As a chef, I feel very fortunate that I was given the opportunity to be part of all this and to share my knowledge, not only with young and talented cooks, but also with every television viewer who is interested in quality food.”
— Giannis Loukakos has been a Judge on ‘MasterChef’ on the Greek TV station Mega Channel from 2010-2013
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“My motto: ‘Respect the viewers who care enough to watch your shows’. TV is both an angel and a demon, it can lie or speak the truth. I am committed to upholding moral values in my professional endeavours.”
["Respecter ceux qui nous regardent" est ma devise. La télévision est un ange et un démon, elle peut mentir ou parler vrai. J'ai à cœur de mettre de l'éthique dans ce que j'entreprends professionnellement.'']
— Karine Le Marchand, Presenter of ‘L’Amour Est Dans Le Pré’ (‘Farmer Wants A Wife’) on M6
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“TV can reach broad audiences, mass audiences, niche audiences; it can be local, regional, national; it can be spots, sponsorship, interactive. It can be anything you want it to be. I tend to think of TV as the Swiss Army knife of media, it’s got something for everybody.”
— Nick Manning is the President International of Ebiquity plc
(Source: Thinkbox & World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“In the beginning man walked on the moon, as author Jonas Gardell put it. The first great memories of my generation were born on the television screen. The more modern computer I understand, or attempt to understand, with my mind, but I will always primarily understand television with my heart. Television is the altar of my generation.”
— Peter Nyman is the anchorman for Finland’s leading TV channel, MTV3
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“From the invention of the movable type press by Guttenberg in the 15th century until today, there has been a constant evolution of means of communication, bringing with it new forms of media. Within this new digital age, the evolution continues but it is not an evolution by which one media is replaced by another, but rather complemented by another. Each media form today has a comparative advantage of sorts, which guarantees its existence in the future. Within this context, social media and a more personalised consumption of media via the internet will continue to develop, but broadcast TV will always remain the dominant platform for live events and group viewing. Be it major live sporting events such as the Football World Cup or live news events such as the US Elections or the recent Arab Spring only TV has the power to mobilise emotions instantaneously among mass audiences. It is and shall remain the medium par excellence for people to simultaneously share their emotions and partake in the seminal events of our global village. It was the medium that took us to the moon and it will continue to inspire us today and in the future.”
— Jean-Paul Philippot is the President of European Broadcasting Union and Administrator-General of the RTBF
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“The digital r-evolution has allowed television to free itself from the constraints of time and space and to travel seamlessly from the living room to a multitude of screens, offering viewers of all ages, genders and nationalities a renewed and much richer experience around content and information when and wherever they want. These are exciting times for broadcasters; times when we reinvent, transform and add value to an activity that consumes the major part of most people’s days and when we consider how to best harness the great potential of both linear and on-line television to help develop attitudes and responses to the world we all inhabit.”
— Heikki Rotko is the President of egta & Chief Executive Officer of MTV Oy Finland
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Hello, I’m Birgit Schuurman and I think television is the perfect medium to make us aware that there is more than just our own life.”
— Birgit Schuurman is a host on RTL Nederland
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“TV is the most generous medium. It even seems to benefit its competitors.”
— Sir Martin Sorrell is Chief Executive Officer of the world’s largest advertising company
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“If you are not aware of the news, you don’t know your place within the world. And if you don’t know what’s going on around you, you can’t help others.”
— István Szellő presents the news on RTL Klub, one of Hungary’s leading television stations
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“The most important thing for me is the fact that you never lose the thrill of entertaining people, and you never have a 100% guarantee of the final product. There is a reason why we call media the fourth estate! The feeling of holding this force in your hands is indescribable.”
— Victoria Terziiska is an actress and presenter of ‘The Voice’ on bTV Bulgaria
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Hi my name is Quinty Trustfull and I’m host on Dutch television, and I think that television is a huge inspiration for a lot of people.”
— Quinty Trustfull is a host on RTL Nederland
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“When I did my first TV piece I knew: This is it! And until today, nothing has changed. TV enables us to quench our thirst for knowledge – in a colourful and entertaining way.”
— Sarah Valentina Winkhaus hosts the Sky production ‘Kinopolis’ in Germany
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
What they say about television …
Influential personalities in the world of politics, social advocacy, sports, culture, entertainment and media share their experiences on how television has contributed to their career or to the promotion of their cause.
(In alphabetical order)
“Television has been able to embrace music and image together. Without television, music will not be what it is nowadays.”
— Anggun Cipta Sasmi is an Indonesian and French singer, and songwriter
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“People around me tell me that the live broadcast (both on TV and on the Internet) of my mission to the edge of space and of my record-breaking freefall jump from 23 miles above the earth offered a unique and magic moment to millions of people around the world … They say that witnessing live my breaking the speed of sound, protected only by a space suit made it possible for so many people to start believing that it is possible to push the limits of what one once thought was impossible … That those images allowed children and adults alike to share my dream or to simply start dreaming for themselves … and that they arouse for thousands an interest in science, physics, speed, extreme sports, etc. This makes me feel very fortunate …”
— Felix Baumgartner set the world record for skydiving and became the first person to break the sound barrier without vehicular power on his descent
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT - Photo: Credit Red Bull Content Pull)
“It’s impossible to overvalue the importance of television – both in its serious and less serious functions. It’s one of our most important ways of finding out the truth – and also of changing the world, and finding out what in the world needs changing. It’s also an immense bringer of joy – I learnt how to laugh through television, and now my children and I, every day of every week, share the joy and stupidity of TV shows – they actually make us HAPPY.”
— Richard Curtis is a British screenwriter, actor, film director and co-founder of Comic Relief (British charity organisation)
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT; Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)
“It is a fact that I owe my early fame as a musician – that is to say, as a classically-trained pianist and composer – to television. It is also by making television programmes that, several years onwards, I was able to draw the general public’s attention to classical music. With the success of my TV shows – some 150 to date – I’ve become a national voice of the Portuguese people, from high society to the lower orders and everyone in between. That said, and much to my sorrow, I do not believe that my shows, despite my continually promoting their educational merits, have contributed to greater availability of classical music, as the Portuguese have no access to this particular music. Even though 99% of the Portuguese refer to me as ‘Maestro’, they have no real knowledge of classical music, the reason being that it is deprived of public exposure. The onslaught of mainstream music, relentlessly forcing its way through every communication platform, means that wide distribution of classical music is virtually impossible. As such, it is my belief that 99% of the people who cross me in the street or otherwise actually think I am an archaeologist, as they are oblivious to the very existence of classical music.”
— António Victorino D`Almeida is a Portuguese musician and writer
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“TV is a fundamental building block of the Brazilian nation. It ensures the cultural and linguistic unity of a country in which significant parts of the population are largely, if not entirely, illiterate, that is to say only managing to write down their own names. Since neither literature nor film has been able to reach the nation en masse, television has taken up that responsibility. In Brazil, TV’s responsibility is thus huge, when it comes to producing programs. This essentially means TV has to gradually mould the identity of a country still going through its phase of self-discovery or, rather, self-invention. We must not think of television as a business but as a very powerful component in the building of a collective unconscious. This is perhaps why Globo, our largest TV network, is nicknamed ‘The Dream Factory’.”
— Gregorio Duvivier is a Brazilian actor and screenwriter
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“In what ways has TV changed my life? It has been a joy to share with everyone on the TV screen all that I was scared to tell any of my eight husbands. And I even got a lot of money for it.”
[„Hogy miben változtatta meg a TV az életemet? Minden olyan dolgot, amit addig nem mertem nyolc közöl semelyik férjemnek sem elmondani, boldogan megoszthattam mindenkivel a képernyőn és még sok pénzt is fizettek érte."]
— ZsaZsa Gabor is a Hungarian-born American actress, who acted in movies, on Broadway, and on television
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT – Photo: Credit Wikipedia)
“Everyone wants to talk about the role of social media in last year’s uprisings, but the big Arab television news channels played just as significant a part in the Arab Spring. There is a limit to the extent to which mobile phones can replace professional cameras: their short video sequences do not have the emotional impact of a feature on Al-Jazeera or Al-Arabiya, the two biggest news channels in the region. Their live reports from Tahrir Square and elsewhere were able to reach tens of millions of viewers. Surfing the net cannot provide the live thrill viewers got each Friday in February 2011, as their TV screens simultaneously relayed the demonstrations in Tunis, Cairo, Tripoli, Sana’a and Manama like major sporting events. These will remain in the popular imagination of the region for years.”
— Yves Gonzalez-Quijano is Director of the Gremmo (Groupe de recherches et d’études sur la Méditerranée et le Moyen-Orient) and a professor at the University Lyon II
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“My novel The Island (originally written in England) was adapted two years’ ago into a 26-part television series by Mega TV and attracted a 70% audience share. I was a consultant on To Nisi (its Greek name) and worked with the all-Greek team of directors, actors and crew during the eighteen month production period. The quality of the end result was phenomenal, with 26-episodes made for the cost of one hour of American TV drama. It showed the depth of talent in Greece – from acting, cinematography and set design to music and make-up (a huge challenge, given that the subject matter of the story concerns the disease of leprosy). As well as Greece, the production has already been shown in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia and will soon be aired in Finland and Hungary – and no doubt further countries in the future.”
— Victoria Hislop is the author of “The Island”, the novel adapted into a TV series by Greece’s Mega TV
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television always carried me: be it at my beginnings in small series and telefilms, or through my success in Kasamh Se and Bade Acche Lagte Hain. Thanks to TV, I saw an incredible dream come true: I could incarnate good and bad people, share my joys and pains with the audience, but also be part of this incredible medium that can educate and entertain at the same time! And with new TV platforms, the journey has only just started …”
— Ram Kapoor is an Indian television actor, awarded 15 times with prestigious national television awards
(Source: An interview at the Media Guardian Edinburgh Television Festival, August 2011)
“We didn’t even know before we entered the national contest what Eurovision was. But when we learned it meant playing for some 300 million people, we knew it was a good idea.”
— Renārs Kaupers is the lead singer of the Latvian pop/rock band Brainstorm
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Once upon a time there was a girl who dreamed of being an actress, although at the time she was working as a restaurant manager. She found her way into the world of TV through soap operas, and it was then that people started to recognise her, after becoming a TV host, a reality star and staring in the hugely successful series The Glass House on bTV in Bulgaria. Today she gives autographs to people on the streets. That’s the story of my life, I love it and adore TV!”
— Yana Marinova is an actress from Bulgaria
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Freedom of expression is a comprehensive human right since it includes individuals’ possibility to actively speak out and seek and receive information. Public Service Broadcasting is particularly relevant to UNESCO’s core mission because it can serve as a cornerstone of democracy if it is guaranteed with pluralism, programming diversity, editorial independence and appropriate funding as well as accountability and transparency towards the public. That is why, between 2003-2010, UNESCO supported the development of a regional news exchange project in South East Europe. Women trafficking in the region, youth rights in EU and non-EU Balkan countries, industrial pollution in Croatia, sewage spillage in Serbia and environmental education were among the many issues public broadcasters covered as a group in their news and current affairs stories. Today, the news exchange project which has formed a stable self-sustainable network called ERNO, produces and exchanges more than 1,200 news items per year. Needless to say, television plays a vital role in raising local awareness of important issues relevant to this region of the world. Not only does television alert to the region’s most important issues, it also fosters cooperation and mutual understanding between South East European media, which provides, in turn, a framework for coordinated action towards tackling common political, economic and environmental crises.”
— Tarja Turtia, Programme Specialist, Division for Freedom of Expression and Media Development, UNESCO (UNESCO is the specialised United Nations agency tasked with defending the freedom of the press and promoting the free flow of information)
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
What they say about television …
Influential personalities in the world of politics, social advocacy, sports, culture, entertainment and media share their experiences on how television has contributed to their career or to the promotion of their cause.
(In alphabetical order)
“Since 1997 TVN has been, through its dedicated programs, at the cutting edge of journalism, telling the stories of the lives of those less fortunately than most. Quickly the stories became so moving and poignant that it became our mission to not only use television as a way to tell their story, but as a way of helping to make their lives better. This has resulted in a TVN Foundation delivering over EUR 36 million to various charitable causes across Poland.”
— The TVN Foundation is a non-governmental fundraising organization providing support to people suffering from illness, poverty and loneliness.
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“Television is mostly perceived as entertainment, sometimes as an educational tool, regretfully sometimes as an instrument of propaganda. In my experience as a UNICEF officer, I have discovered that TV is also an extremely powerful agent for social change. When the success of a program demands a change in people’s habits or mentality, television is by far the most effective instrument. It penetrates the inner circle of the family; it represents the life of the rich and famous and, as such, is perceived as being credible. When a message is ‘seen on TV’ it is most probably good for me! This TV impact has been proved in many occasions, in all kinds of social and geographic environments. It was effective when we promoted a massive program to immunise children. Without the mobilisation of the families we would never have been able to increase the vaccination coverage from 5% to over 90% during the 1980s. The families would never have accepted the message without television. Other programs to improve child nutrition, to promote personal hygiene and the importance of clean water, to encourage school enrolment for girls, to stimulate micro credits have equally benefited from the participation of TV partners. The lesson for me is that TV can be one of the best media for social change if we choose to. It reaches people and it is credible.”
— André Roberfroid is the former Deputy Executive Director UNICEF and currently President of the Association Montessori Internationale
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
“25 years ago, scientists, doctors and politicians in France tended to overlook the harsh reality of rare diseases. But thanks to France Télévisions’s 1987 fundraising telethon and the ensuing wave of citizen involvement, families affected by these diseases could let their voices be heard and spoke up about their lives and hopes towards new research in this field. This goes to show how a vast movement of TV professionals, scientists, doctors, patients and citizens alike allowed us to shake up the world of Biomedicine for the benefit of all.”
["Il y a 25 ans les maladies rares étaient en France les grandes oubliées de la recherche, de la médecine et des pouvoirs publics. Grâce au marathon télévisuel lancé par France Télévisions en 1987 et grâce à la mobilisation populaire qui l'accompagne, les familles frappées par ces maladies ont pu sortir du silence et témoigner de leur vie quotidienne et de leurs espoirs en la recherche. Un vaste mouvement alliant professionnels de la télévision, chercheurs, médecins, malades et grand public nous a ainsi permis de lancer une véritable révolution biomédicale au bénéfice du plus grand nombre."]
— Laurence Tiennot-Herment is the President of AFM-TELETHON
(Source: World Television Day – 21 November 2012 – for egta / ACT)
