A grouping of broadcasters from around the Mediterranean are striving to create a common audio/video archive which will ensure that the culture of the lands around the Mediterranean basin are available now and for posterity. This project, which is led by the French audio-visual archive organisation INA, is called ‘Med-Mem’.
Broadcasters from right across the region, from France to Jordan and Israel, are seeking out programmes which say something about their national identity and way of life. These are then digitized and uploaded to the website. A common website is being created which will be a gateway to the content.
Six themes
| Content will be grouped into six themes: 2. Habits, traditions, jobs and knowledge 3. Landscapes and environment 4. Cultural and artistic expressions 5. History 6. Tourism |  |
The precise plans need to be finalized but the EBU has suggested that the website makes available a good but not broadcast quality copy of material at no charge, but for full quality versions for broadcasting, some payment is involved. This should allow general use of the material, but allow some income from professional use for broadcasting.
Digitization stations
One of the novel elements of the project, which is partially funded by the European Community, is that those without the facility to digitize their programmes are helped to do so. The RAI are making available a 'kit' which includes a PC board and software - the digitization station. This will take analogue TV content and convert to a digital form and upload it to the main website which is being managed by the INA. In July 2009, RAI hosted in Turin the first training on "Digitization" for Med-Mem partners. This session is intended to help TV professionals in the installation and the use of digitization stations.
More information
For more information on this project, please contact: David Wood (EBU).