Television continues to be the single largest source of video consumption. Though screen sizes have changed, and people create, post, stream and consume content on different platforms, the number of households with television sets around the world continues to rise. The interaction between emerging and traditional forms of broadcast creates a great opportunity to raise awareness about the important issues facing our communities and our planet.
In the 21st century, what is the purpose of a TV? It's not just a one-way channel for broadcast and cable content anymore. Modern televisions offer a wide range of multimedia and interactive content, such as streaming videos, music, and internet browsing.
Linear TV vs Streaming
Despite the shift in audiovisual content consumption to different platforms and the constantly evolving technology, TV remains an important communication tool. The biggest divide, however, has been in how we receive these images. Traditional over-the-air TV channels, a form of broadcasting transmitted via radio waves to antennas in our homes, appear to be in slow decline in favor of streaming companies whose TV signal is received through bandwidth internet connections.
It remains to be seen whether the decline of traditional television will increase as the years go by, or whether the two formats will co-exist and compete for viewers' attention in parallel.
UN Multimedia Products and Services
The United Nations provides a suite of multimedia products and services covering the work of the United Nations both at Headquarters and around the world, to reach audiences and support the work of the international news media.
Live streaming and broadcasts
is the Organization’s official streaming video platform for live and on-demand coverage of United Nations meetings and events. UNTV provides live feeds and HD broadcast-quality files on demand.
UN Video
UN Videos are produced for news and social media platforms, as well as for broadcast partners in the six official languages of the UN (French, Spanish, English, Chinese, Arabic, Russian), as well as Hindi, Kiswahili, and Portuguese.
UN Video producers report from locations around the world to bring you the latest content on the work of the United Nations and its agencies. From peacekeeping missions and humanitarian crises to international events and summits, UN Video tells stories that inform and inspire audiences across the globe.
Explore the series .
UNifeed — Breaking News Footage
Footage of breaking news and events in field missions and UN agencies are shared with partners in raw news packages by , which enables news providers to cover important global issues by offering timely broadcast-quality video from throughout the UN system. Stories come from the global network of UN specialized agencies, funds and programmes, peacekeeping operations and UN Headquarters. New stories are posted on the UNifeed website as soon as they become available.
Social Media
Follow the UN's social media channels.
UN AV Library
The has a , marking iconic and historic moments from the last 70 years.
Background
In recognition of the increasing impact television has on decision-making by bringing world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day (through of 17 December 1996).
World Television Day is not so much a celebration of the tool, but rather the philosophy which it represents. Television represents a symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world.
On 21 and 22 November 1996 the United Nations held the first World Television Forum, where leading media figures met under the auspices of the United Nations to discuss the growing significance of television in today's changing world and to consider how they might enhance their mutual cooperation. That is why the General Assembly decided to proclaim 21 November as World Television Day.
This was done in recognition of the increasing impact television has on the process of decision-making. Television was thus acknowledged as a major tool in informing, channelling and affecting public opinion. Its impact and presence and its influence on world politics could not be denied.
