Since it was founded, ASBU placed international cooperation at the heart of its concerns. Thanks to its openness to the external environment, ASBU has established close partnerships with sister regional and international unions and other actors in the audiovisual sector by means of joint projects and initiatives:
- Co-productions
- Exchange of news and programs
- Sharing of experiences
- Training
- Covering sporting events
ASBU has a far-reaching influence on the sector regionally and internationally and thus contributes to the sector’s development at various levels, including the technical and legislative ones for the benefit of member radio and TV corporations.
Among ASBU most prominent partners, we can cite:
World Broadcasting Union(WBU)
It is a coordination body that brings together audiovisual unionsfrom around the world. It was established in 1992 and is headquartered in Canada. Its activities are based on areas of common interest, including sports rights and intellectual property.
ASBU is an active WBU member and it regularly participates in the Union’s annual general meetings as well as in ad hoc meetings.
- Cyber Security
- Protection of radio and television frequencies in coordination with ITU
- Pooling the efforts of broadcasters to develop means of radio and TV production through IP and ASBU Cloud
- lntellectual property rights
- Sports Rights
the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
EBU, headquartered in Geneva, was established in 1950. Most of its members are European radio and TV corporations. Its main mandate is to enshrine the concept of public service in the media field.
ASBU has developed strong relationships with EBU based on mutual consultation and joint action.
The following areas are covered:
- TV news exchange
- Music radio exchange
- Training
- Exchange of experience, particularly in the field of technology
- Advocate for the interests of the TV and radio corporations members of the two unions
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)
Established in 1964, ABU is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. It aims to support the audiovisual sector in the region and to protect the common interests of TV and radio stations and manufacturers operating in the sector.
ASBU and ABU concluded a cooperation agreement in 2012. Its maion axes are the following:
- Exchange of news bulletins
- Joint coverage of some major events of common interest
- Radio and TV training
- Mutual participation of each organization in the events organized by the other one. Every year, ASBU participates in the ABU General Assembly and often contributes to the professional sessions organized in this framework
- Technical cooperation in the framework of the WBU Engineering Committee
African Union of Broadcasting (AUB)
Founded in 1962 in Dakar (Senegal), AUB brings together African television and radio corporations and encourages cooperation among them, especially in terms of program exchanges. A cooperation agreement was signed between ASBU and AUB in 2018. It aims mainly to:
- establish a cloud platform and an exchange network for radio and TV content for the benefit of AUB and its member corporations with support from ASBU
- provide technical and organizational services to AUB member organizations to facilitate and optimize the utilization of the new platform
- Provide support to identify the needs of both AUB and AUB's member corporations in terms of radio and television vocational training, and provide training to African professionals
Permanent Conference of the Mediterranean Audivisual Operators (COPEAM)
A non-profit organization established in 1996 and headquartered in Rome. It aims to promote cooperation between Arab and European radio and TV corporations and other media actors in the Mediterranean.
Cooperation with COPEAM covers different areas including:
- News Exchange in the Mediterranean(ERN-MED)
- Training and workshops on themes of common interest (media coverage of environmental issues, gender equality and media, etc.)
- Advocate for the interests of the TV and radio corporations members of the two unions
- Sharing of experiences
- Radio and TV co-productions
- Mutual participation of each organization in the events organized by the other one.
Cooperation between ASBU and COPEAM has achieved significant results in terms of TV co-production. For example, several TV documentary series, including "Joussour" and "Inter-Rives," have been produced . Inter-rives is today at its seventh edition.
Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD)
An organization headquartered in Kuala Lampur and established in 1977 under the umbrella of UNESCO; it aims to enhance cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of policies and human resources development in the field of electronic media
Cooperation between ASBU and AIBD dates back to 2002, and addresses several areas, in particular:
- Radio and TV training
- Co-roduction
- Organizing joint events
- Mutual participation of each organization in the events organized by the other one.
- Contributing to the World TV Awards competition.
Every year, ASBU participates in the Asia Media Summit and is considered a distinguished official partner in the World TV Awards for the best documentary . Its contribution consists in:
- choosing the topic of the competition
- Appointing an Arab jury member representing ASBU in the competition juries
- Encourage Arab participation in the competition
- Award a financial prize
- Contribute to promoting knowledge about this competition
China Global Television Network (CGTN)
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between ASBU and CGTN in 2016 to enhance existing bilateral cooperation particularly in respect of participation in the Arab Radio and Television Festival.
A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed with CGTN, whereby ASBU joined the Belt and Road Media Community. Under the MoU, the areas and terms of reference of cooperation and partnership between the two partners are identified They include:
- Exchange of programs
- multilateral co-production
- Exchange of information
It should be mentioned that CGTN takes an effective part in the Arab Radio and Television Festival, the Program Market and in ASBU Broadcast convention.
International Telecommunication Union(ITU)
ITU is a UN agency specialized in information and communication technology. It was founded in Paris in 1865 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
ITU distributes radio spectrum and satellite orbits, designs technical standards that ensure seamless communication between networks and technologies, and seeks to improve the access of communities around the world to ICT technologies.
ITU organizes international conferences on a regular basis (every four years). It also organizes regional conferences and several training courses and seminars.
ASBU contributes to the work of ITU through:
- Participation in global and regional conferences for the regulation of the radio sector and the protection of allocations, frequencies and satellite orbits for Arab States in the field of radio and television broadcasting
- Cooperation in the field of training and benefiting from international experiences in the audiovisual sector
- Cooperation and organization of seminars, training courses and joint workshops with the ITU Arab Regional Office and participation in events of common interest
Mediterranean Center for Audiovisual Communication (CMCA)
CMCA, an association founded in 1995 in Marseilles. It brings together many TV stations and producers as well as other actors in the Mediterranean audiovisual sector. A cooperation agreement was signed between CMCA and ASBU in 2005 with a focus on:
- Cooperation in the exchange of experiences
- Cooperation in festivals
- Co-production of documentaries
ASBU is an official partner of the Mediterranean Film Festival (PRIMED) organized every year by CMCA in Marseille. ASBU's contribution consists in:
- Encouraging Arab participation in the Festival's competitions
- Appointing an Arab jury member representing ASBU in the competition juries
- Awarding a financial prize to one of the winning programs
- Contributing to promoting knowledge about the Festival through ASBU website