Updated on 12/28/2008
EARTH BROADCASTING
SERVICE
SERVICE
THE EARTH BROADCASTING SERVICE (ebs)
The Earth Broadcasting Service (ebs) is the oldest global press outlet on
Earth. With offices in almost every major city on the planet and offices on
other Federation member worlds, it has become the most popular planetary
news agency in the Federation (ebs-Vulcan, ebs-Andor, etc). The ebs went
public on January 1st, 2148, the day that the Earth government transitioned to
a non-monetary economy.
The ebs found its roots in Leeds in the United Kingdom during Earth’s third
world war. When London went silent in the early days of world war three, the
largest English news outlet at the time, the BBC, went black. A man identified
as “Black-Dog Alan” began transmitting via shortwave radio, providing
positive news of “the wasteland.” Programming developed, as Mr. Alan
provided such commentary as “the Wastelander’s Survival Guide,” and trivia-
based game shows such as “London Roulette” and the popular “Nuked or
Not” where contestants would have to guess if a named city was attacked
during the war winning scavenged goods and anti-radiation medicine. The
ebs continued transmitting through the war and into reconstruction. Mr. Alan
died in 2077.
In 2090, when the European government was re-established, the ebs found
itself competing with the newly created BBC. However, listeners around the
globe remembered the positive and often funny commentary of Alan, and how
he had helped to keep everyone’s spirits up through Earth’s darkest hour.
Ratings for ebs programming, now using satellite communications, climbed
and consistently beat out the BBC. The BBC folded in 2098 leaving only non-
European competitors.
In 2131, the ebs became the first news outlet to open an office on Vulcan.
Other offices followed with the moon and Mars. In 2146, the ebs-Vulcan
became a separate entity, though the two companies kept extremely close
ties, including the sharing of assets and cross-over reporting.
In 2147, after the formation of the Earth Government and the Global Economic
Plan went into motion, the CEO of the ebs at the time, Jack Strayer, offered to
sell the ebs to the Earth Government for one Pound. This took place on
December 31st, 2147 and the ebs became the first Earth Corporation to
operate in the public sector on January 1st, 2148.
In 2160, the ebs launched its "terranews" division. The terranews is a 24-hour
news program run live from the ebs headquarters in London. While other ebs
frequencies centered on traditional news, talk, commentary, documentaries
and entertainment, terranews has the sole purpose of providing up-to-the-
minute news on the events of Earth and the Federation. Many prefer ebs'
terranews then that of the UFP's own Press and Information as terranews is
considered more entertaining to watch. Shortly after its launch, terranews
began using their own reporters and investigative journalists from the public
sector. Because of this, terranews has the furthest reaching reporting than
any other planetary-based news agency than any other in the Federation. By
2280, it was competing with other Federation-wide news outlets.
Historical facts about the ebs: It was the first news agency on Earth to
interview a Vulcan. The ebs was the first Earth news agency to interview an
Andorian. It was the only Earth news agency to broadcast live during the
signing of the Federation accords. The ebs is the only Earth news agency to
broadcast public Federation Council hearings. The ebs holds the most
awards, mainly for the quality of its documentaries.
The Earth Broadcasting Service (ebs) is the oldest global press outlet on
Earth. With offices in almost every major city on the planet and offices on
other Federation member worlds, it has become the most popular planetary
news agency in the Federation (ebs-Vulcan, ebs-Andor, etc). The ebs went
public on January 1st, 2148, the day that the Earth government transitioned to
a non-monetary economy.
The ebs found its roots in Leeds in the United Kingdom during Earth’s third
world war. When London went silent in the early days of world war three, the
largest English news outlet at the time, the BBC, went black. A man identified
as “Black-Dog Alan” began transmitting via shortwave radio, providing
positive news of “the wasteland.” Programming developed, as Mr. Alan
provided such commentary as “the Wastelander’s Survival Guide,” and trivia-
based game shows such as “London Roulette” and the popular “Nuked or
Not” where contestants would have to guess if a named city was attacked
during the war winning scavenged goods and anti-radiation medicine. The
ebs continued transmitting through the war and into reconstruction. Mr. Alan
died in 2077.
In 2090, when the European government was re-established, the ebs found
itself competing with the newly created BBC. However, listeners around the
globe remembered the positive and often funny commentary of Alan, and how
he had helped to keep everyone’s spirits up through Earth’s darkest hour.
Ratings for ebs programming, now using satellite communications, climbed
and consistently beat out the BBC. The BBC folded in 2098 leaving only non-
European competitors.
In 2131, the ebs became the first news outlet to open an office on Vulcan.
Other offices followed with the moon and Mars. In 2146, the ebs-Vulcan
became a separate entity, though the two companies kept extremely close
ties, including the sharing of assets and cross-over reporting.
In 2147, after the formation of the Earth Government and the Global Economic
Plan went into motion, the CEO of the ebs at the time, Jack Strayer, offered to
sell the ebs to the Earth Government for one Pound. This took place on
December 31st, 2147 and the ebs became the first Earth Corporation to
operate in the public sector on January 1st, 2148.
In 2160, the ebs launched its "terranews" division. The terranews is a 24-hour
news program run live from the ebs headquarters in London. While other ebs
frequencies centered on traditional news, talk, commentary, documentaries
and entertainment, terranews has the sole purpose of providing up-to-the-
minute news on the events of Earth and the Federation. Many prefer ebs'
terranews then that of the UFP's own Press and Information as terranews is
considered more entertaining to watch. Shortly after its launch, terranews
began using their own reporters and investigative journalists from the public
sector. Because of this, terranews has the furthest reaching reporting than
any other planetary-based news agency than any other in the Federation. By
2280, it was competing with other Federation-wide news outlets.
Historical facts about the ebs: It was the first news agency on Earth to
interview a Vulcan. The ebs was the first Earth news agency to interview an
Andorian. It was the only Earth news agency to broadcast live during the
signing of the Federation accords. The ebs is the only Earth news agency to
broadcast public Federation Council hearings. The ebs holds the most
awards, mainly for the quality of its documentaries.
Game Home > Starfleet Home > News Services > Earth Broadcasting Service