International Children's Day of Broadcasting — is one of the brightest and kindest holidays — is celebrated on the first Sunday of March. It was introduced by UNICEF in 1991 and calls not to forget about the smallest and most caring television viewers.
Every year on the first Sunday of March, all the leading television and radio companies in the world provide airtime to children and children's programs — they all « tune in to the children's wave», broadcasting high-quality programs for children and about children. After all, the main goal of the — holiday is to encourage media around the world to pay more attention to issues related to children. And on this day, all workers involved in the production of children's television programs and radio programs celebrate their professional holiday.
Since the International Children's Television and Radio Broadcasting Day was established, thousands of television and radio presenters in over one hundred countries have been taking part in the Day's programme of activities, commemorating it so that the Day is remembered for its uniqueness and celebratory nature.
In addition, back in 1994, UNICEF and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences established a special award that was awarded to the television company whose program on that day most fully embodied its mission. In 2008, UNICEF established its own award, given to television and radio companies.
It must be said that initially this Day was celebrated in December, and since 2009 its celebration has been postponed to the first Sunday of March. Although UNICEF took the initiative to host the Day in 2011, it called for continued celebration, the involvement of young people as television program creators and the sharing of plans to create new projects with the participation of young people.
The International Day of Children's Television and Radio Broadcasting also has a socially significant side — The day is designed to attract public attention to the rights of children and youth. What do young people know about their rights and responsibilities? How do they serve society? The media, as the interlocutor closest to young people, pay great attention to these and other issues.
On this day, children, teenagers and young people become not only listeners and spectators, they actively take part in the process of creating the program, in various mass media events. Everyone is given the opportunity to talk about their dreams, desires, and also exchange other pressing information with peers not only in their own country, but also in any corner of the world.
By the way, the first youth radio channel in the Soviet Union was the radio station «Yunost», the first call letters of which were aired on October 16, 1962, and two years later the famous TV show «Good night, kids!» aired. The date of birth of children's television in Russia is considered to be January 18, 1963 — on this day the Main Editorial Office of Programs for Children of Central Television was formed. Currently, more than 20 children's TV channels broadcast in Russia.