Richard Collins explores public service television's role in fostering pan-European cultural identity. Based on extensive primary research, interviews with participants and analysis of key European programmes, this book documents the growth of the public service satellite television network which was backed by the European Union, and its eventual alliance with Rupert Murdoch's commercial Sky network.

'A comprehensive and impressive account of the ill-fated endeavours to establish a pan-European broadcaster ' - David Ward, University of Westminster

'Collins has written a timely and important book, which is the result of over a decade reviewing satellite and European audio-visual policy' - David Ward, University of Westminster, Media, Culture and Society

Richard Collins is Head of Education at the British Film Institute. From 1993 to 1997 he was Research Director of the Media and Communication programme at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). He has taught media and communications at universities in the UK and overseas since the early seventies and latterly at the London School of Economics and Political Science.