ASEAN Digital Broadcasting Underway
OPENING REMARKS
FIRST MEETING OF SOMRI
WORKING GROUP
ON ASEAN DIGITAL
BROADCASTING
HAJI MOHD ROZAN BIN DATO
HAJI MOHD YUNOS
PERMANENT SECRETARY, PRIME
MINISTER’S OFFICE
KIULAP PLAZA HOTEL, 4TH
AUGUST 2015
Bismillahirrahmaanirrahiim
Alhamdulillahirabbil ‘alamiin wassalatu wasssalaamu ‘ala asyrafil anbiya
e walmursalaiin sayyidina muhammadin wa’ala ‘alihi wasahbihi ajmma’in
Yang Mulia, Awang Haji Muhammad Suffian bin
Haji Bungsu,
Director of RTB as Chairman of Organising
Committee;
Yang Mulia, Awang Mawardi bin Haji Mohamad,
Acting Director of Information Department as
Chairman of Sub-Committee on Information – Brunei Darussalam;
Distinguished ASEAN delegates, representatives of ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretariat officials,
invited guests, media partners, ladies and gentlemen;
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarkatuh and
a very good morning
It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome all
of you the distinguished delegates and participants to Brunei Darussalam to the First Meeting of the SOMRI Working Group on ASEAN Digital
Broadcasting (WG-ADB);
I
would like to take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome and deep
appreciation to all delegates from ASEAN member states for taking their
valuable time in attending this significant meeting;
I do hope all of you will have a very comfortable and
enjoyable stay in Brunei Darussalam – the Abode of Peace and be able to spend some time to discover the beauty of our
country and observe the real life of Bruneians;
Last year, at the ASEAN Ministers
Responsible for Information (AMRI) meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, the working
mechanisms for Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Information (SOMRI) was
discussed and the Terms of Reference was been agreed by AMRI.
Three new mechanisms or
working group were established under the auspicious of SOMRI which include this
ADB
Working Group that shall act as the technical working resource group
responsible for the recommendation and implementation of the measures and
initiatives related to digital broadcasting, that will focus on, but not
limited to, the following:
- Study, share and recommend the latest development of digital broadcasting initiatives, regulation and standards;
- Coordinate with other sectors concerned on radio frequency for digital broadcasting;
- Exchange views and share best practices on digital broadcasting strategies;
- Monitor the progress of digital broadcasting industry and its development in ASEAN; and
- Mobilise resources to implement projects and capacity building initiatives.
Just to reiterate for the benefit of this meeting that the establishment
of three Working Groups (WG) under SOMRI, are:
- WG on ASEAN Digital Broadcasting (ADB)
- WG on Content and Production
- WG on Information, Media and Training (including new media)
Brunei Darussalam is
indeed honoured to be the chair for the first Working Group-ASEAN Digital
Broadcasting.
Today, we gather here to
meet and discuss on the Working Group on ADB. I sincerely hope that our two-day
meeting will develop innovative and fruitful ideas for consideration and
implementation in the coming future.
Distinguished delegates,
Digitalisation had brought
significant evolvement and challenges to the broadcasting policy and technology
industry. The development of multi delivery platforms has impacted considerably
on the distributions of contents and information that have become an
opportunity to the broadcasters which may be imperative for this WG to discuss.
The availability of multiple platforms should be regularly utilised to inform
the public and to bridge gaps on the aims of developmental efforts, as well as
to bring them together in the establishment of a strong ASEAN community.
The new media, which
includes smartphones, smart TV, internet, and various media applications, have nevertheless
created some concerns for broadcasters to re-strategize with relevant
authorities and dialogue partners. One good example is the issue of frequency
spectrum re-allocation that may deprive future broadcasting development after
ASO timeline.
Hence, this meeting may be
the relevant platform to address the concerns.
Distinguished delegates,
We are very pleased to
note that since the ADB cooperation initiative started in 2003, every AMS has
established concrete digitalisation roadmap and target ASO timelines within the
year 2015 to 2020. Such strategy will encourage our people to embrace fully the
digitalisation efforts and enjoys its benefits as well as positively impacting
the quality of life and progress of the society.
We are also very pleased
to note that our former ADB Cooperation Initiative has marked significant
achievements which include, among others:
- AMRI endorsing the guidelines for ASEAN Digital Switch-Over serve as a blueprint to aid all Member States in their transition;
- The establishment of ASO timeline between 2015 – 2020 within ASEAN;
- The Minimum technical specifications of DVB-T2 set-top box; and
- The High definition TV programme production namely ‘Colours of ASEAN’.
Distinguished delegates,
2015 is a very significant
year for ADB as this year marks the start of ASO timeline realisation. This
year and the next five years ahead is definitely a very challenging time for us
to ensure our goal to fully migrate to digital terrestrial television
broadcasting is met. I am pleased to note that in this meeting, every AMS will
continually update each other on respective digital switchover/ analogue
switch-off plan.
Distinguished delegates,
As members of this Working
Group, we share the duty to identify and propose appropriate initiatives and projects
in line with our TOR that would contribute to the ease of disseminating
information and programme production in our broadcasting community.
The fast growing digital technology
and facilities has paved ways to lower the costs of programme production and
more importantly to further foster creativity and innovativeness in digital
production. Thus, the wealth of ideas of our producers and engineers can be nurtured
and encouraged through the availability of such strong technological and sound policy
supports such as capacity building programmes via solid connections with our
sister Working Groups.
Distinguished delegates,
I am also pleased to note
that there will be an open session whereby the industry players shall update
specifically on digital radio broadcasting and audio technology development; and
also to share their experiences and expertise on such subject.
I encouraged all of you to
take this knowledge-enrichment opportunity to further explore on its benefits
and prospects.
I personally believe that
this is a good avenue for all AMS members to explore digital radio broadcasting
as we have achieved much success with digital terrestrial television
broadcasting.
This, digital radio
technology, is one of the quick wins that we can embrace; and also a cheaper
means for broadcasters to recapture our audience and to realise the ASEAN
Communication Master Plan where “ASEAN: A Community of Opportunities.”
I hope that we can continue
to consider inviting other industry players or dialogue partners in the future
meetings to generate and establish, among others, networks and new ideas as
well as discussion on funding supports to mobilise future initiatives and
projects.
Distinguished delegates,
In conclusion, I would like to express my
utmost appreciation and profound thanks to the ASEAN Secretariat and the
Organizing Committee for their hard work to bring this meeting a success and
achieve its objectives.
I wish you all have a
successful time of discussion, engagement and deliberations as well as enjoyable
stay in our capital city - Bandar Seri Begawan.
With the kalimah
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I declare The First Meeting of the SOMRI Working
Group on ASEAN Digital Broadcasting (WG-ADB) open.
Thank you for your kind
attention.
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