Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) is a non-political, professional association of broadcasting organizations, formed in 1964. The association aims to assist the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region and to promote the collective interests of its members.

Key Points for UPSC Prelims

  • It currently has over 280 members in 57 countries and regions and is covering an audience of around 3 billion people.
  • It is one of the largest world’s broadcasting associations.
  • ABU covers an area spanning from Mongolia in the north to New Zealand in the south and from Turkey in the west to the island country Samoa in the east.
  • Its secretariat is situated in Angkasapuri, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

New Vice President of ABU

Shashi Shekhar Vempati has been recently elected as the new Vice president of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. He is the CEO of the official broadcaster Prasar Bharati. He has been elected for a term of 3 years.

This time, ABU has 3 vice-presidents assisting President. The other two vice presidents are- vice president of Japanese state television NHK Satoru Masagaki and Yang Sung-Dong, President of Southern Korea’s KBS.

Ibrahim Eren became the first Turkish president of ABU. He is the Chairman and Director General of Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), the public broadcaster of the country.

Prasar Bharati

It is the public broadcaster of India which also comprises the All India Radio and the Doordarshan Television Network. It was formed in November 1997.

Recently, Prasar Bharati signed an agreement with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for launching 51 direct-to-home (DTH) education TV channels.

World Broadcasting Unions (WBU)

WBU is a body the coordinates the continental broadcasting unions. It was formed in the year 1992 and at present, WBU has 7 regional broadcasting unions as its members. ABU is one of the seven members. Toronto-based North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) serves as the secretariat for the WBU.

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