ABC signs MoU with KBS during ABU Admin Council meeting

29 May 2025

ABC signs MoU with KBS during ABU Admin Council meeting

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), endorsing the commitment of the two public broadcasters to collaborate and partner across future endeavours.

Hugh Marks said: “South Korea is a cultural powerhouse and its public broadcaster KBS is a leading provider of high-quality content across its varied platforms. It is important for the ABC to work closely with our regional partners, in particular public service media organisations, and to look for ongoing opportunities to exchange content and information to improve our respective services and audience offerings.

“The ABC also congratulates KBS for the Korean parliament’s recent legislating of an integrated licence fee which will ensure KBS’ ongoing financial stability and the provision of its essential services.”

The MoU was signed during the ABU Administrative Council meeting that the ABC hosted in Sydney. ABC International welcomed media leaders for the meeting, held on 8 and 9 May in Sydney.

Alongside ABU Secretary General Ahmed Nadeem, ABC International leadership hosted leaders from Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Nippon Hoso Kyokai, Japan (NHK), MTV Channel (Pvt) Limited, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC), Prasar Bharati, India (PB), Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), Teledifusao de Macau, S.A. (TDM), Television Broadcasts Limited, Hong Kong, China (TVB), Radio and Television of the People’s Republic of China (RTPRC), Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) for high-level discussions about the ABU’s finances, administration and policies.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “It is a great honour and responsibility to be part of the Administrative Council and to host this year’s meeting. We thank the ABU and its members for this opportunity to meet and discuss how we can strengthen regional co-operation and work collaboratively as media and broadcasters in our countries and internationally.”

TRT Haber to chair ABU News Group

29 July 2024

TRT Haber to chair ABU News Group

Mr. Ahmet Görmez, the news coordinator of TRT Haber, has been elected Chair of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) News Group. His success follows the election of TRT Director General Prof. Mehmet Zahid Sobacı as the President of ABU in November 2023.

Mr. Görmez was unanimously elected Chair of the ABU News Group during the annual meeting of the group held in Bangkok. Representatives from Japan’s NHK and Australia’s ABC were elected for the vice-chair positions.

Serving more than half of the world’s population as the biggest global broadcasting union, the ABU has 240 members in 65 countries. Turkish Radio Television Corporation (TRT) is Full Member of the union since 1964.

TRT will host the 61st ABU General Assembly and Associated Meetings in October 2024 in İstanbul, which is poised to become a landmark event that celebrates the 60th anniversary of both the ABU and TRT.

For more information:

https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/trt-haber-to-chair-abu-news-group-18185103

https://www.abu.org.my/2024/07/18/abu-news-group-elects-new-chair-and-vice-chairs/

[Source: TRT]

ABU seeks new Secretary-General

2 July 2022

ABU seeks new Secretary-General

The ABU is inviting applications for the post of Secretary-General, Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union-ABU

The present Secretary-General will be leading the Secretariat up to the end of December 2022. The ABU is therefore seeking to recruit a high-calibre professional as Secretary-General. The Secretary-General Designate will start working at the ABU Secretariat once the formalities for visa and work permit are completed.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to fill the important position of the ABU Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General is the administrative head, editorial and creative leader of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union’s Secretariat, reporting to the ABU President, and responsible for leading and managing the ABU Secretariat located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and implementing the decisions of the ABU Administrative Council and General Assembly.

The key responsibilities of the Secretary-General are to:

Develop and implement strategic initiatives to achieve the Union’s vision, mission and objectives as stated in the ABU Statutes.
Promote and project a positive image of the ABU globally by nurturing fruitful partnerships and cooperation with other international organisations.
Provide leadership to and oversee the operations of the ABU’s Secretariat and all its departments to ensure that they provide quality and timely services to members.
Manage the finances of the Secretariat, control the assets and funds of the ABU, and oversee the preparation of budgets, operational expenses and financial reports.

The successful candidate will be appointed for a three-year term, with a possible three-year extension.

APPLICATIONS:

Applications should be accompanied by a detailed CV and work history, a covering letter of a maximum of 1,000 words outlining why the candidate believes he or she could successfully fill this role, details of current salary and allowances, the period of notice to be given to the applicant’s existing employer, and a passport size photograph. The age of applicants may preferably be less than 60 years. Candidates up to 62 years old will also be included in the selection by the Recruitment Task Group.

Applicants are also invited to nominate 4 referees (2 bosses, 1 colleague and 1 subordinate).

Applications should be sent by email to the following 3 addresses:

Mr. HASHIMOTO Akinori,

Executive Controller, General Media Admin., NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.)

hashimoto.a-gy@nhk.or.jp main

CC: kuroiwa.m-fy@nhk.or.jp backup

CC: DQG10121@nifty.ne.jp backup

For your reference, the postal address and telephone number are shown as follows.

Postal Address: Mr. HASHIMOTO Akinori

Global Strategy Division, NHK WORLD Department,

2-2-1, Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 1508001, JAPAN

Telephone number: +81-3-5455-7754

FAX number: +81-3-5478-6557

The closing date for the submission of applications will be 31^st July 2022.

Candidates will be assessed against the following selection criteria:

Proven track record of leadership and management in a broadcasting or similar media organisation as Chief Executive Officer, Director-General or similar very senior management position.
Demonstrated strong inter-cultural and inter-personal skills with the ability to generate consensus and influence outcomes among people of diverse backgrounds, cultures and nationalities.

iii. Minimum 5 years of experience in planning and implementing strategic media initiatives in an international broadcasting context.

High-level financial management experience including the preparation of budgets and financial reports.
Excellent working knowledge of media and broadcasting issues in the Asia-Pacific region and familiarity with and understanding of the work of the ABU and its membership.
Ability to promote and project a positive image of the ABU and to build fruitful relationships with other international organisations.

vii. Very high-level writing and communication skills in English are a pre-requisite, but a working knowledge of other languages in the region would be an advantage.

viii. Knowledge about new technology, multiplatform delivery systems, UHD 4K& 8K, cybersecurity / IP-based media network, VR, AR and MR Technologies in broadcasting, big data and AI Technologies and 5G Technology.

Proficiency and self-sufficiency with use of IT and new media
A Master’s university degree in a relevant discipline will be an added value.
Applicants must be citizens of a country within the Asia-Pacific region.

NHK President Ryoichi Ueda chosen as the new President of ABU

6 October 2018

At the ABU General Assembly convened in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat, Mr Ueda was elected to a term until the end of 2021. He is the ABU’s sixth President from NHK. He will continue to lead the ABU for the next three years from January 2019.

On his election he stated: “Our industry is now facing a historic transformation. We are seeing the emergence of new media brought about by the digitalization of broadcasting and widespread use of the internet. We in the broadcast media will not be able to survive unless we adapt to this change in the environment and evolve.”

Mr Ebrahimi Eren of TRT Turkey is the newly elected Co-Vice President who will work alongside Mrs Supriya Sahu, Director General of Doordrashan India, and Mr Sun Yusheng, Vice President CCTV & Executive VP CGTN, China who will both continue to serve the ABU as Vice Presidents.

(Source: ABU press release)

Australia loses Mr Football

1 August 2017

The AIB is saddened to learn that Les Murray, the former football broadcaster and known to football fans across Australia as “Mr Football”, has died aged 71.

Regarded by many as the voice of Australian football, Murray had been battling a long-term illness, according to his long-term employer SBS. He had retired from his role on the The World Game in July 2014, having played a major role in the game’s development in Australia since the 1980s.

In a statement, SBS said: “Les will be remembered not just for his 35-year contribution to football in Australia, but for being a much-loved colleague, mentor and friend who has left a unique legacy. To say he will be sorely missed is an understatement.

Murray pioneered football broadcasting in Australia following the launch of the National Soccer League in 1977, initially on Channel 10, and went on to become the voice of World Cup coverage on SBS for several decades. He hosted eight World Cups in total, his debut coming at Mexico 1986.

He also worked across the Asia-Pacific region as Chair of the ABU Sports Group for more than 10 years, and had been an advisor to the Association for International Broadcasting. Murray was also a member of the FIFA Ethics Committee.

Murray came to Australia from his native Hungary at the age of 11 after the 1956 uprising, without any knowledge of the English-language. Murray began his career at SBS in 1980 as a Hungarian subtitle writer, but it was his passion for football that rapidly brought him into the network’s sports team. By 1986, he was hosting SBS’s World Cup coverage. As an SBS football commentator and presenter, he covered eight World Cups before retiring in 2014.

Tributes have flown from all circles, with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the football community and fans sharing their accolades of the lauded sports commentator.

Over his career, he championed the cause of immigrants in Australia, devoting much time to breaking down the many barriers that newcomers to the country had to face and helping to develop the country as a model of tolerance to all races. It was fitting that he worked for SBS, Australia’s multicultural network.

Les Murray will be greatly missed by his colleagues at SBS, the AIB, ABU and across the world of football and sports broadcasting.