ABU meeting targets audience in digital era
(VOV) -Vietnam gives priority to modernizing the broadcasting industry on a par with international standard, Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.
Addressing the 50th General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU GA 50) in Hanoi on October 28, Dung noted digitalisation has become an inevitable trend of radio and TV broadcasters in order to increase the effectiveness of information dissemination and provide better services to audiences regionally and globally.
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He acknowledged the ABU’s vanguard role in modernizing the broadcasting industry and enhancing cooperation among its member countries, saying the Union has undertaken many initiatives to raise the quality of broadcasts and the prestige of media agencies in the pacific rim.
The Government leader pledged to create optimum conditions and offer incentive policies for the local broadcasting industry towards modern trends, aimed at diversifying contents and platforms, promoting evolving media technologies, and accelerating global integration.
He emphasized the importance of modern technology and application, helping audiences gain access to a wider range of information and entertainment services via many devices.
The PM said the ongoing ABU GA 50 creates a good chance for regional policymakers and media agency leaders to exchange notes, share experiences and implement specific measures to cater to the diverse tastes of the public.
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Tran Binh Minh, General Director of Vietnam Television (VTV), that hosted the event, emphasised that audiences are becoming more aware of their rights to consume accurate and up-to-date information through various media platforms. They require better content and easy access enabling them to interact with broadcasters wherever they are and whenever they want.
The Government of Vietnam has approved and implemented a project on digitalising the broadcasting industry since 2001. The project, which will run until 2020, aims to upgrade infrastructure and transmission network by applying modern technologies and increasing capacity building of the broadcasting industry.
Vietnam is catching up with modern worldwide trends with a focus on reducing production costs and enabling people living in remote, border and island areas to access broadcasting services.
He also spoke of VTV’s digitalization roadmap to provide high quality services for viewers and increase interaction between TV viewers and broadcasters.
ABU Acting Chairman Naoji Ono, who is also Japan’s NHK Vice President, said young people now tend to access information through handy devices like tablet and smart phone rather than traditional methods of watching TV or listening to the radio.
The crux of the matter is how to attract more young listeners, who are interested in surfing the internet and searching information through these handy devices, he said.
He expressed his belief that the ABU GA 50 would chart a new course for its member countries to mobilise resources for their broadcasting development strategies.
ABU Secretary General Javad Morttaghi said it’s eight years since Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) successfully hosted the ABU GA in 2005, the local broadcasting industry has gained outstanding achievements and made a breakthrough in improving content quality and diversifying genres of media.
This year’s event will help regional broadcasters capitalize on all resources available to modernize their own industry.