Objectives

Activities

  Objectives

Boost all forms of programme-exchange between ASBU members by continuously enhancing the mechanisms needed to that effect so that they could bring into full view the true image of Arab culture and civilization and highlight aspects of the Arab countries’ artistic, cultural and social life.

Propose and organize art festivals, seminars, study-sessions and contests.
 
Carry out programme-related studies likely to help promote programming activities in a general way. 

Encourage and coordinate coproduced programmes by ASBU member-organizations. 

Further develop cooperation relations with Arab and international broadcasting unions as well as cultural and artistic institutions involved in the production of TV programmes and festivals from which ASBU members could derive benefit.

Maintain steady coordination with the Arab News and Porgramme exchange centre in all matters related to TV exchanges between member-organizations.

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  Activities

  Among the set of TV programmes exchanged by ASBU members, mention should be made of:

The « Sahra Arabiya » (or Arab evening show) : This is a programme which includes a variety of cultural, artistic and documentary episods produced by members and broadcast on the ASBU-leased channel on Arabsat according to a determined time-schedule.

The numbers of exchanged Sahra are as follows:

22 sahra 1997
17 sahra 1998
20 sahra 2000
24 sahra 2001

The Annual Documentary Programme : This is a programme dealing with a theme selected annually by the TV Programme subcommittee , produced by ASBU members on the basis of one episode per member and exchanged on the leased channel. Among the themes so far treated, mention must be made in particular of : 

Tourism in the Arab world 1998  Arab weddings and their traditions 1999  Museums in the Arab World (particularly those focusing on Arab and Islamic history and civilization) 2000  The Anticrafts 2001

The «Know your Country» documentary program: This program covers tourism-related activities in Arab countries. Each member-organization produces its own episode and exchanges it with other members on the ASBU-channel leased from Arabsat. 

Among the themes so far treated: 

Tourism in the Arab World 2000  Arab Capitals 2001

Programmes in Store : These are selected programmes stored in Arab videotheques and exchanged between ASBU members via the Arabsat leased channel. 

Religious Festivities’ Programmes : These are special programmes broadcast in a coordinated manner on the leased channel in celebration of such major religious occasions as the holy month of Ramadhan, the Pilgrimage season, the two « Eeds » and Ramadhan « Taraweeh » prayers. 

Coverage of Arab Cultural and Artistic Events : These programmes cover major cultural and artistic events taking place in various Arab countries, such as film and drama festivals, popular arts, music and song special shows. They are produced by various ASBU members and exchanged on the Arabsat leased channel. 

The weekly cultural Package : CULTURAAL LIGHT : It is a weekly cultural Package Through which cultural reports are exchanged via ASBU leased Transponder on Arabsat.

The exchange of Items : It is a monthly exchange of items about historical and Touristic sites and new discoveries, executed on ASBU leased Transponder on Arabsat.

The exchange of Songs (Clips) : It is a monthly exchange of songs (clips) produced by ASBU members and transmitted via leased Transponder on Arabsat.

Festivals

The Arab Song Festival

This is an annual festival organized on a rotating basis in one of the Arab countries, featuring young singers and ending by an award called « The Golden Microphone » granted by an arbitration committee to the best song in text, composition and execution, as well as three incentive awards for the best composition, text and execution, respectively. The Arab capital cities in which this festival has been organized in the last few years are as follows in chronological order : 

Damascus / Syria 1989  Beirut / Lebanon 1993  Tunis / Tunisia 1994  Amman / Jordan 1995  Manama / Bahrain 1996  Cairo / Egypt 1997  Beirut / Lebanon 1999  Cairo / Egypt 2000  Damascus / Syria 2001

The Arab Radio and TV Festival

This is held every other year in Tunis in1981. It is organized by ASBU in cooperation with the Tunisian Radio and Television (ERTT) and includes:

• A TV programme competition 

• A Radio programme competition 

• A Radio and TV program market. 

Could participate in both competitions and market all ASBU members, private broadcasting networks as well as private Arab producers. An accredited committee composed of ASBU members’ delegates grants the winners different prizes at the close of the festival.

Seminars

In parallel to the song festival, ASBU organizes a seminar attended by Arab outstanding figures in the field of music and songs to discuss such topics as: 

Young singers and the media 1995  Modern Arab song production 1996  Arab songs in audio broadcasting 1997  The role of television in Arab songs  promotion 1999  The role of radio and TV in the preservation  of the Arab singing heritage 2001

ASBU also includes in the programmes of the Arab radio and TV Festival a symposium to discuss such topics as :

Arab Co-production 1995  Arab children programs via satellite 1997  Arab TV drama on the eve of the 21st century 1999  The situation of culture on Arab T.V channels 2001

 

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