Broadcasting Services

The Office of Broadcast Services (OBS) supports the foreign affairs communication mission of the U.S. Department of State by providing international TV pool coverage of events involving the President, Secretary of State, and principal spokespersons; by producing broadcast television coverage of current events in the U.S. and worldwide that present U.S. policies; by producing special events programs, documentaries, VNRs, and interactive dialogues; and by acquiring programming for TV placement by American embassies and directly to broadcasters via the American Embassy TV Network.

• OBS produces and acquires original television programs in support of the Department and embassies overseas. It operates AETN--American Embassy TV Network, the U.S. Foreign Affairs TV Channel of Record, presenting speeches and messages by the President, Secretary of State and policy spokespersons; State Department, White House, Pentagon and Foreign Press Center briefings; and Congressional hearings and special events coverage pertaining to the broad range of U.S. foreign affairs, including live news interviews, coverage of visiting heads of government, and other departments and agencies. IBB currently allots the Department of State 10 hours daily, Monday-Friday, intermixed with Voice of America/Worldnet programming on a channel of the IBB satellite system.   
• The Broadcast Support Branch provides TV facilities assistance to hundreds of foreign TV reporters and producers based in the U.S. and traveling to the U.S. on special assignment.  This includes TV news interviews with U.S. Government spokespersons, in-depth reporting tours for TV journalists and TV CO-OP documentaries, and prime-time TV magazine programs.  
• The Productions Branch produces live studio discussion programs on AETN requested by regional and functional bureaus and embassies. It produces coverage of major conferences and events originating from the Department of State for international TV pool distribution.   
• OBS also produces original news features and documentaries, including special productions on news of the day, such as reconstruction of Afghanistan and humanitarian assistance in Iraq. PBS videos and other acquired films and documentaries are available for posts to order for programming by embassies. Some TV products are available with broadcast rights. Broadcast Services also produces original programs for educational and public outreach.  
• OBS operates and is building TV production facilities in the Harry S Truman (HST) building and at the National Press building. This includes live origination from multiple points at both buildings and the construction of all-digital TV production studio and technical facilities and master control, tapeless editing, and archive at HST and the National Press building. This operation transmits and receives broadcast television to and from locations worldwide and specializes in producing in multiple languages, simultaneously. A significant portion of the production capability is through contract staff and vendors. Department of State TV facilities are connected via a switch at the Verizon AVOC to IBB/Worldnet, the White House, Pentagon and the U.S. Congress, and APTN, Reuters TV, and directly to international broadcasters and EBU (European Broadcasting Union), with capability for significant expansion. 

For definitions of initialisms and terms used in the broadcasting field, refer to our glossary.