Asiavision (news Exchange)

Asiavision (news Exchange)

Asiavision is a daily exchange of news by satellite and file transfer among television stations in 20 countries in Asia. Launched in January 1984, it brings together many of Asia's leading broadcasters. Its members are: RTA–Afghanistan, Saba TV-Afghanistan, BTV–Bangladesh, BBS–Bhutan, RTB–Brunei, CTN-Cambodia, CCTV–China, TVB–Hong Kong, DDI–India, Metro TV–Indonesia, IRIB–Iran, NHK–Japan, TDM–Macau, RTM–Malaysia, TV5–Mongolia, Forever Group–Myanmar, NTV–Nepal, CNA–Singapore, SLRC–Sri Lanka, MCOT–Thailand, RTTL–Timor Leste, TRT–Turkey and VTV-Vietnam.

Asiavision is a non-profit activity of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU). It has no commercial or political aims; its purpose is to promote the free exchange of news among broadcasters in Asia.

Asiavision has its operations centre in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, and is coordinated by ABU Secretariat staff. Asiavision has two satellite transmissions a day. The first is from 0830 to 0900 GMT and the second from 1215 to 1235 GMT. Transmission is on AsiaSat 5. More than 9,000 items are exchanged each year.

Besides the daily transmissions, news flashes are arranged for important, breaking stories such as natural disasters or major political events.

Among the major news events covered by Asiavision in 2011 were the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on 11 March, which claimed more than 15 thousand lives. Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, has covered the aftermath on a daily basis for the news exchange. Asiavision members have expressed their admiration for the efforts of Japan’s broadcasters in covering the disaster, and full support for their role as providers of emergency information.