(European Broadcast Union) The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and works on behalf of its European members. The EBU negotiates broadcasting rights for major sports events, operates the Eurovision and Euroradio networks, organizes program exchanges, stimulates and coordinates co- productions, and provides a full range of other operational, commercial, technical, legal and strategic services. At its office in Brussels, the EBU represents the interests of public service broadcasters before the European institutions. The EBU was founded in February 1950 by the pioneers of radio and television in Western Europe. It merged with the OIRT - the former union of eastern European broadcasters - in 1993. Apart from its active members in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, the Union has 49 associate members in 30 countries outside of Europe. These include the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), the North American Broadcasters' Association (NABA), the Union of National Radio Television Organizations of Africa (URTNA), the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), and the Organizacion de la Television Iberoamericana (OTI). The Union is involved in radio data system (RDS), digital audio broadcasting (DAB), digital television (DVB), and high- definition TV (HDTV).