6 March 2013
The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) today condemned attempts that are being made to interfere with the broadcasts of international broadcasters on short wave in the Asia region.
English-language broadcasts from the BBC World Service, Radio Australia and Voice of America beamed towards China are being deliberately interfered with by the jamming of a number of frequencies. Such jamming makes it difficult or sometimes impossible to listen to the broadcasts that include news, current affairs, science and entertainment.
Research undertaken by the broadcasters and by independent monitors in the Asia region indicate that the source of the jamming is within the People’s Republic of China.
“AIB condemns this latest interference to the broadcasts of the BBC, ABC Radio Australia and Voice of America,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the Association for International Broadcasting. “Free access to information is a universal human right, and this interference is preventing audiences based within China to hear news from outside the country. It comes at a time when China’s own international broadcasters – on radio and television – are expanding rapidly around the world. They do not suffer from attempts by other nations to silence them. AIB calls on China to cease its jamming activities.”
Broadcasts in Mandarin from broadcasters including the BBC, Radio Free Asia and Voice of America have been interfered with for many years. This is the first time that English-language services have been targeted in such a widespread way.
AIB is lodging protests with the Chinese Foreign Ministry and its Missions in Canberra, London and Washington DC.
Read the press release here.
31 January 2013
AIB’s latest industry briefing – covering a wide range of subjects in international media – has been published.
You can read the briefing here and subscribe to our monthly briefings by completing the simple form on the right hand side of our home page.
This briefing reaches a constantly growing number of influential media leaders in over 170 countries. You can make use of the wide reach AIB has to promote your brand. Contact Matthew Porter at AIB headquarters to discuss the opportunities.
7 January 2013
AIB’s Governance is undertaken by a six member Executive Committee elected from the membership. Nominations for the Executive Committee – AIB’s leading advisory group – are now sought from AIB members and elections take place in February.
The Executive Committee has an important role in influencing policy and standards in broadcasting and electronic media globally. It works, for example, to shape regulatory policy in many markets globally. It is unique in bringing together the views, knowledge and expertise of the broadcasting industry from all parts of the world.
Full information is being sent to members – only member companies are eligible to nominate and vote for the Executive Committee which defines the AIB’s strategy and work plan.
AIB’s CEO, Simon Spanswick, is writing to all AIB members seeking nominations which should be submitted by 31 January 2013. Elections will then take place in February with the new Committee members taking up their two-year post on 1 March 2013.
12 December 2012
AIB has published its latest industry briefing for the media internationally. With news about HD developments, distribution in Asia and programming, plus the latest people news, this industry briefing is a useful publicly-available resource for the media industry worldwide.
AIB members receive more detailed briefings about media markets, trends and developments worldwide in confidential, member-only market intelligence briefings. Contact AIB for more information about the benefits of membership.
7 December 2012
AIB has circulated to its members the latest confidential market intelligence briefing compiled by the organisation.
These regular briefings help inform members’ strategies and provides considerable amounts of background information about trends and developments in broadcasting and electronic media in territories and markets around the world.
All members receive these briefings as part of their membership benefits. To discuss how AIB could help your organisation if it is not currently an AIB member, talk to us.
22 November 2012
The Association for International Broadcasting has today announced that it has appointed Amitabh Srivastava as its regional head in South Asia. This appointment is the first of a series of expansions of AIB’s work in a number of regions of the world.
As regional head, Srivastava (pictured right) will oversee the growth of AIB’s membership in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, countries where there is significant expansion in the number of TV channels and radio stations. Significantly, a growing number of these broadcasters are developing international services.
Srivastava will also be able to assist AIB’s existing members who are seeking to develop their businesses in the South Asia region, drawing on his experience in working for a range of major international brands. He has also developed partnerships between media owners and mobile operators in South Asia.
“I am delighted to welcome Amitabh to AIB,” said Simon Spanswick, AIB chief executive. “He has worked in the media sector in India representing major brands for a number of years and has achieved remarkable successes. Now we look forward to Amitabh leading AIB’s growth in one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing media markets.”
Commenting on his appointment, Amitabh Srivastava said “It is great to be joining the world’s leading industry association and supporting major international TV and radio broadcasters as well as service providers. I am looking forward to developing AIB’s membership base in South Asia and to involving more broadcasters from this region in global conversations.”
Amitabh Srivastava joins AIB from Radio Netherlands Worldwide where he was country manager. While at RNW, he developed the first partnership between All India Radio and an international broadcaster, and achieved significant rebroadcasting and content syndication deals with commercial FM stations and new media platforms in the region. Before RNW, Srivastava worked with Walt Disney, BBC, MTV and a range of other international media houses developing their operations in India andSouth Asia.
