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T


he ABU and the Indian government are working closely to find a solution to


the issue of simulcasting, which is proposed to be included in the broadcasters’ treaty.


Simulcasting refers to the simul - taneous broadcasting of programmes on the Internet by traditional broadcasters. While the practice is supported by the broadcasting industry, opponents of simulcasting believe that the rights of broadcasters can be easily thwarted if radio and TV programmes which are being simulcast by broadcasters on the Internet are downloaded and exploited by third parties without the broadcasters’ permission.


Although it recognises that the proposed treaty is necessary to protect broadcasters’ rights, India believes that the treaty should not cover simulcasting.


During the General Assembly in New Delhi, Axel Aguirre, ABU Legal Counsel, conveyed to G.R. Raghavender, Director and Registrar


ABU and India working to resolve simulcasting issue


increased broadband penetration has significantly facilitated signal piracy through online retransmissions.


ABU Legal Counsel Axel Aguirre presenting Prasar Bharati CEO Rajiv Takru a copy of the Handbook on Copyright.


of Copyright, the serious concerns of the broadcasting industry on the rampant, unauthorised use of broadcasts on the Internet and the need for a strong international measure to protect the rights of the broadcasters in the new media.


He said that the WIPO Study on signal piracy has confirmed that


Mr Aguirre also met Rajiv Takru, Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati, in New Delhi, to seek his support for the broadcasters’ treaty. Subsequently, Mr Aguirre met Mr Raghavender in Geneva on 26 November during the WIPO session on the proposed treaty.


He provided Mr Raghavender with the CASBAA 2011 report showing that the total cost of broadcast piracy covering the pay-television industry in Asia-Pacific reached US$2.141 billion in 2011. This represents a jump of 72 percent from US$1.539 billion, just four years earlier.


In 2011, India suffered a total loss of US$1.381 billion.


He said there were too many superficial stories in the media because of the fierce competition among the media and because reporters did not know the background to the stories.


International journalism should provide accurate news and information in a timely and meaningful manner, while maintaining the cultural diversities of our global village, he said.


The presentations led to a lively discussion.


Yoshinori Takatori of TBS- Japan, said that in time of disaster, a broadcaster’s role was not only to support relief and recovery efforts but to connect people to each other.


Dagmar Skopalik of German public broadcaster ZDF supported Ms Tucker’s views. She said it was not only about human rights but inclusiveness.


Abdul Rahman Panjshiri of RTA-Afghanistan said his country had seen a big improvement in women’s rights in recent years. He said media organisations should work together to promote women’s rights and resist efforts by hard- liners to reverse the process.


Ahn Se-Deuk of KBS said the Korean public broadcaster was employing a man who was totally blind as a TV anchor. One of a broadcaster’s most important roles was


to include people with disabilities, he said.


Mano Wikramanayake of MTV-Sri Lanka said some of the international media coverage of Sri Lanka had been sensationalised, with little investigative reporting done on important issues.


Kalinga Seneviratne of AMIC-Singapore said the international media tended to highlight the voices of dissent in some countries, with not as much emphasis on the positive things which were happening.


Michael McCluskey of Radio Australia said the international media should not only report news freely in other countries but look in depth at cultural issues


in order to bring mutual understanding across boundaries.


Sally-Ann Wilson of the CBA said international broadcasters should maintain a balance between providing news of their own country to other countries, and providing news of other countries.


Datuk Ibrahim Yahaya, the acting ABU President, said ABU members should share knowledge with each other, because to make an impact in the fight against HIV/AIDS a broadcaster needs good programmes.


The moderator was Andy Clark, Head of the English Department at Radio Netherlands Worldwide.


ABU News 17


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