Union Internationale de Radiophonie

international broadcasting organization

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The Union Internationale de Radiophonie (UIR) was an international broadcasting organization that became nearly unworkable due to tensions between the East and West. In its place, the European Broadcasting Union was established in 1950 by Western European countries. The UIR's difficulties highlight the challenges faced by international organizations during periods of geopolitical conflict. Other international broadcasting bodies include the International Telecommunications Union, which works to foster cooperation in telecommunications and manage radio frequencies.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

broadcasting
International conferences
…London in 1925 created the Union Internationale de Radiophonie. The union was based in Geneva, with a BBC representative as president and another as secretary-general, and was the first international broadcasting organization. The use of wavelengths, copyright problems, and international program exchanges inevitably were discussed, and a plan was drawn…
Read More
…London in 1925 created the Union Internationale de Radiophonie. The union was based in Geneva, with a BBC representative as president and another as secretary-general, and was the first international broadcasting organization. The use of wavelengths, copyright problems, and international program exchanges inevitably were discussed, and a plan was drawn…
Read More