New UN TV Broadcast Centre strengthens UNIS’ global communication reach
A new UN Broadcast Centre has been inaugurated by the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Geneva at the Palais des Nations this week, marking an important milestone in the upgrading of the UN Geneva multimedia and live production capacity.
Operations have just migrated to the new facilities after several months of working at a temporary facility in the upper galleries of the Assembly Hall.
Located on the ground floor of Building C, close to UNIS offices and the Press Room, the new Broadcast Centre includes a TV studio, two video editing stations, and two production control rooms including, importantly, a master control room that can receive dozens of incoming signals from different sources, and distribute them to various locations – including live broadcast signals to media, livestreaming to UN Web TV, and recording to local servers. The Centre was built in the framework of the Strategic Heritage Plan, bringing together the elements needed for a contemporary production workflow in a single purpose-designed space, and allowing for greater integration of webcasting and broadcasting at the UN in Geneva.
The new facilities represent a significant milestone that positions UNTV Geneva ready for any future technical upgrade to 4K. Its greatest value lies in strengthening UNIS Geneva's ability to support the work of the UN family in Geneva and its Member States in the Europe, Middle East and Africa time zones. As the UN communications hub in Geneva, UNIS helps connect the work of the Organization and its partners with audiences around the world. Through press briefings, webcasts, broadcast coverage and multimedia production, it provides journalists, diplomats, civil society organizations and the public with timely access to information.
With appropriate staffing, this new Broadcast Centre expands the Information Service’s capacity to support more than 40 United Nations entities who make news at the Palais des Nations, serve over 180 accredited journalists who cover the UN in Geneva, and provide professional, monitored coverage of more than 900 intergovernmental meetings every year. During the past year alone, UNIS’s Web TV Unit webcast some 300 meetings of the Human Rights Council and human rights treaty bodies, with UNTV providing media and audiovisual support for major international gatherings, from the first International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals to the Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan.
The impact of this work is felt far beyond the walls of the Palais des Nations. In recent months, content produced by UNIS Geneva has been distributed to 830 broadcasters and media organizations in 97 countries, while its digital platforms recorded some four million views. These figures reflect the growing demand for timely, reliable, and accessible information on global issues and international cooperation.
The opening of the Broadcast Centre comes at a time when demand for digital content and remote access to international discussions continues to grow. The new facility also illustrates how the historic Palais des Nations is being preserved and modernized, but also how UNIS Geneva is equipping itself with the tools needed to communicate effectively in a rapidly evolving media landscape. By combining advanced technology with the expertise of UNTV's production teams, the Centre will help ensure that the conversations taking place at the Palais des Nations continue to inform and engage global audiences for years to come.
