COLOMBO (News 1st): Technical and expert committee discussions held alongside the 63rd General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) commenced today at Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams, in Colombo.Several key meetings, including those of the ABU Sports Committee, Programme Committee and Technical Committee, were held with the participation of international media leaders and representatives from across the region.ABU Secretary-General Ahmed Nadeem and Chief Executive Officer of MTV Channels (Pvt) Ltd, Yasarath Kamalsiri, welcomed the visiting delegations.Addressing the gathering, Yasarath Kamalsiri said it was an honour for MTV Channels and the Maharaja Media Network to host this year's General Assembly.He highlighted the role of broadcasting in informing, educating and bringing communities together, pointing to initiatives such as Gammadda as examples of how media can contribute to meaningful social change.Meanwhile, ABU Secretary-General Ahmed Nadeem highlighted the changing media consumption habits of audiences, particularly among younger generations, who increasingly favour short-form content and personalised experiences.He stressed the importance of embracing innovation while safeguarding the quality, credibility and cultural relevance of broadcasting content.Nadeem also highlighted the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in content production, noting that it can enhance workflows and support producers and content creators through new innovations.However, he underscored the need to address challenges relating to cybersecurity, content security and authenticity.The technical and expert committee discussions are scheduled to continue tomorrow, focusing on policies and developments that will help shape the future of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region.The official inauguration ceremony of the 63rd ABU General Assembly is scheduled for Sunday, the 1st of November, at Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams, in Colombo.Meanwhile, a concert featuring leading artistes from across the region will be held on Monday, the 2nd of November, at the Stein Studios Complex in Ratmalana.
