Held on 21st November every year

Television is great force which can educate great numbers of people about the world around them. It can bridge gaps between between different culture and communities. It can shed light on ignorance and diffuse hatred. The television industry promotes mutual understanding and tolerance. The UN acknowledges that television can be used to educate many people about the world, its issues and real stories that happen on the planet. It has an increasing impact on decision-making by alerting world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and plays potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues. Television is one of the most influential forms of media for communication and information dissemination. It is used to broadcast freedom of expressions and to increase cultural diversity. The United Nations’ (UN) World Television Day is annually observed in many places around the world on November 21. The day recognizes that television plays a major role in presenting different issues that affect people.

World Television Day History

On 21st and 22nd 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 21st November as World Television Day - to commemorate the date on which the first World Television Forum was held. On December 17, 1996, UN General Assembly, through resolution 51/205 of 17 December 1996, proclaimed November 21 as World Television Day. The UN invited all member states to observe the day by encouraging global exchanges of television programs focusing, among other things, on issues such as peace, security, economic and social development and cultural change enhancements. The celebration highlights how communications have become one of today's central international issues, not only for their relevance to the world economy, but also for their implications for social and cultural development. The celebration also underlines the ever-increasing demands faced by the United Nations to address the major issues facing humankind - and that television - as one of today's most powerful communications media, could play a role in presenting these issues to the world.

World Television Day Events

World Television Day is a day to renew governments, organizations and individuals commitments to support the development of television media in providing unbiased information about important issues and events that affect society. News about World Television Day may be shared via print, online and broadcast media. Television and radio bloggers may write comments, editors may write in the editors’ columns, and writers, academics and journalists may write feature articles about the meaning behind this event. Educational institutions may mark World Television Day on their calendars and educators may use this day as an opportunity to invite guest speakers to discuss media and communication issues relating to television. Discussion topics may include: how television promotes cultural diversity and a common understanding; the links between democracy and television; and the role of television in social, political and economic developments.

Holiday Status - It is not a public holiday.