NEW DELHI: Indian pubcaster Prasar Bharati's CEO KS Sarma has been elected vice-president of the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association for a two-year term.
Sarma's election to the key post at the premier public broadcasting association of the Commonwealth took place during CBA's 25th General Conference at Fiji. Sarma now holds the distinction of being the vice-president of both the Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBA) and the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) at the same time. The Prasar Bharati CEO's election underlines the important roles played by Doordarshan and All India Radio in promoting public service broadcasting in the world, an official release from Prasar Bharati said.
The London headquartered CBA is made up of 101 members from 55 countries. It aims to develop broadcasting skills through training, fostering freedom of expression and furthering the concept of public service broadcasting. Almost all the public radio and TV organizations of the Commonwealth countries and some private radio/TV corporations are members of the CBA.
The theme of the 25th General Conference held in Nadi, Fiji from 16 to 19 February was "The Next Generation - in Management, Technology and Programming." The delegates discussed and debated the role of emerging technology in furthering the broadcasting sector.
Doordarshan's role in promoting public service broadcasting got yet another boost today, with its much acclaimed health programme Kalyani bagging the CBA's Best Health Programme Award.
The award for Kalyani comes close on the heels of DD winning the award for Outstanding Local Children's programme for its AIDS awareness show - Haath Se Haath Mila.
Conceived and coordinated by the Development Communications Division of Doordarshan, Kalyani addresses nine key health issues like malaria, cancer, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, leprosy, blindness, anti-tobacco, iodine deficiency and water borne diseases. It is broadcast every Thursday at 6:30 pm from Doordarshan Bhopal, Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, Raipur, Bhubaneshwar and Guwahati.
