ABU Planning Broadband Content Exchange Network

Broadband is the current focus of attention at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).

At a regular ABU News Group meeting just concluded in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei members are to consider introducing an internal broadband content exchange network.

The News Group adopted a proposal for them to actively pursue the matter.

Another significant meeting decision is for each of the ABU Asiavision News Exchange members to make a determined effort to archive historical TV news footage in new digital technology formats.

ABU members recognise that with fast pace of transition from analog to digital broadcast there is serious concern that physically stored materials will be lost forever, unless digital storage and archival materials and brought into use quickly t production facilities and radio and television news centres.

At the same meeting, Johari Achee, the News Group Chairman of the Asia-Pacific ABU News Group, has stepped down following his retirement from Radio Television Brunei (RTB).

The newly elected chairman is Shaun Seow, Deputy Group CEO (News, Radio and Print), at MediaCorp, Singapore

An important footnote is that the ABU radio and TV news directors are taking a serious approach to effective co-ordination in their approach to, and handling of, the issue of Avian Flu across the region.

[Only last week Indonesia reported more cases of the spread of suspected human to human contagion of the disease. The World Health Organisation already takes the position that it is a case of 'when' not 'if' there will be a major outbreak in the Asia region. The ABU radio and TV news directors clearly want to be ready with a collectively agreed approach to handling the matter, as a news issue, striking the correct balance between informing their audiences without causing alarm and panic. As many ABU members are closely linked with national Ministries of Information, the clear channels of communication required between the disseminators of the news, the radio and TV stations and their governments is already in place. The regional governments are much better placed for any natural catastrophe now, following the lessons learned from Tsunami in 2004. Ed]

Some material sourced from: The Borneo Bulletin, http://www.brunei- online.com/bb/tue/jun27h27.htm