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Denmark's
public-service television channel - DR-TV (The Danish Broadcasting
Corporation) has a long tradition of making airtime available to
public agencies and private organisations that wish to communicate
with the general public. Several times each week - during both
off-peak and primetime hours - DR-TV airs a selection of such
information spots in its "OBS" broadcast. Airtime for eligible
organisations is free of charge - the organisation must be a
non-profit or a public agency, and the information spot must be of
relevance to the general public. The organisation finances the
production of the information spot - usually through an independent
production company - and the content must adhere to strict
regulations to be approved for broadcast.
Production of public information spots is an important part of
Channel 6 Television's production activities. Though aimed almost
exclusively at Danish clients, information about this area of
production is included here on our English web pages for the
interest of our clients outside Denmark, as broadcasters in other
countries offer similar opportunities to public agencies and private
organisations. |
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Some
facts about OBS
OBS is aired between 4 and 6 times a week
on both DR TV channels
DR 1 - Usually on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings,
during daytime programming Monday to Friday, and once at
weekends.
DR 2 - Once a week - schedule varies.
(OBS airtimes are published in the national
press) |
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OBS
public information spots offer public authorities, charitable
organisations, and other private non-profit organisations such as
patient-associations the opportunity to communicate with the general
public via nationwide television - often during the most popular
airtime slots.
OBS programmes - which are aired at different times throughout the
week, including during primetime - have a weekly reach of up
to 1 million viewers. |
Children's Adult
Friends / OBS 2002 |
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For eligible organisations this is a particularly effective communication
method. |
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Danish Red
Cross / OBS -1997 |
Both
the organisation behind the information campaign - and the campaign
and segment must be approved as eligible by the DR OBS programme
unit.
In practice this implies that the organisation must be a public
agency or authority, or a non-profit organisation. The message of
the campaign must be aimed at, and relevant for the general
population. |
Såvel |
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The
content and production of the information spot must comply with DR-TV's
general editorial guidelines and technical standards.
The approval procedure is uncomplicated, and the DR TV OBS programme unit
staff are helpful in their advice and guidance for both the organisation
and the production company involved. |
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The organisation
funds the production of the information spot and usually engages the
services of an independent production company to develop, produce
and deliver the finished spot.
The actual airtime is free-of-charge. An OBS spot may be aired many
times over a longer period. Some OBS spots may be used for many
years, though - just like advertising campaigns - a public
information spot should be renewed after a while, so that the
organisation can continue to attract the viewer's attention. |
Save the
Children / OBS 1993 - 2003 |
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Channel
6 Television is a privately owned independent production company. For over
20 years the company has produced public information spots for many public
agencies and private organisations.
You can read more about our previous productions on our Production
credits page. |
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can an organisation use a public information spot? |
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Institute for
Rational Medication
/ Danish Medicines Agency /
OBS 2001 |
A
public information spot can be used in many ways, by different
types of organisation.
Public agencies often use information spots to inform the public
of new initiatives or to support specific public health or public
safety campaigns
Private organisations will often use information spots to inform
about specific problems which affect many citizens, or to inform
about where citizens may seek help, advice or support. |
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transmission in the DR-TV OBS programme, and information spot may be up
top 90 seconds duration - though 60 seconds is the norm. Either way, there
is little time available to go into the finer details - the information
spot should be aimed at attracting the viewer's attention, informing the
viewer that an issue, development or opportunity exists, and telling the
viewer where further information may be sought - usually with reference to
a website address or a telephone number. |
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sender of such information, the organisation has a high degree of freedom
to choose how the information spot should be produced. The organisation is
free to choose it's own style and form - so the spot can reflect and
support the information activities and material already deployed by the
organisation. |
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When
we produce a public information spot for broadcast in the DR-TV
OBS programme, we work closely with the client organisation.
The organisation will have the opportunity of approving the script
and production plan before production begins.
With even a 60 second spot, there are many small details that
require attention. |
Copenhagen Blood Donor Corps /
OBS 1997 |
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