The European Broadcasting Union signed a four-year distribution agreement with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under which it acquired TV and radio broadcast rights for a package of three classical concerts per year.

The first concert to be broadcast is the internationally popular New Year’s Day concert from the Musikverein concert hall in Vienna. It is the most watched annual classical music concert on TV. In 2009, the New Year’s concert achieved a staggering 56% market share in Norway; 39% in Belgium; 40% in the Netherlands, 37% in Slovenia, along with high ratings in most other European countries. On 1 January 2010, market shares and average ratings were even higher for many European broadcasters!

The second concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra package is the annual Schönbrunn concert at the Schlosspark Schönbrunn, Vienna. The New Year’s concert and the Schönbrunn concerts are produced by Austrian public broadcaster ORF.

The third element in the package is a special concert relayed from different international locations each year. In 2009 it was held at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.

The concerts are broadcast by 44 EBU Member broadcasters including: Albania (RTSH), Andorra (RTVA), Azerbaijan (ITV), Belarus (BTRC), Belgium (RTBF & VRT), Bosnia Herzegovina (BHRT), Bulgaria (BNT), Croatia (HRT), Cyprus (CYBC), Czech Republic (CT), Denmark (DR), Egypt (ERTU), Estonia (ERR), Finland (YLE), France (FR2), Georgia (GTVR), Germany (ZDF), Greece (ERT), Hungary (MTV), Iceland (RUV), Italy (RAI), Kosovo (RTK), Latvia (LTV), Lebanon (TL), Lithuania (LRT), Macedonia (MKRTV), Moldova (TRM), Montenegro (RTCG), Netherlands (NOS), Norway (NRK), Poland (TVP2), Portugal (RTP), Romania (TVR), Russia (RTR), Serbia (RTS), Slovenia (RTVSLO), Spain (RTVE), Sweden (SVT), Switzerland (SF, TSI & TSR), Turkey (TRT) and UK (BBC).