"The Real Image of Africa"
AUB Workshop on “The future of the Spectrum for Broadcasting” &
Preparatory meeting of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023.
The African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) is pleased to inform the national and international opinion that it will organize in partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Broadcast Network Europe (BNE) a public workshop with stakeholders on “The future of the Spectrum for Broadcasting”.
The workshop will take place from 12 to 13 April 2022 at Hotel Fleur de Lys, in Dakar, Senegal.
It serves as a prelude to the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference which is organized every three to four years by ITU to discuss global policies for the use of the radio frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The main purpose of Dakar’s workshop is not only to strengthen the knowledge and skills of Media Professionals on the future of spectrum for broadcasting, but also to share concerns and strategies acquired on this subject in our respective countries.
NB: Although spectrum is a scarce resource, if 470-694 MHz remains allocated to the broadcasting service only on a primary basis, there will still be broad spectrum for all uses on our continent. There are strong arguments in favour of a “no change” decision in spectrum allocation for the UHF band below 700 MHz at WRC-23. Therefore, we invite you to seriously take into consideration the stakes of this question which threatens the future of broadcasting in Africa.
The AUB continues to take all initiatives in the interest of its members with the contribution of sister unions like the EBU and partners such as BNE administrations, professional associations and other stakeholders throughout Region 1, given the vital importance of the issue.
AUB's Annual conclave
Abidjan 05 - 06 July 2017
The renewal of the Marketing/Sales/Communication Commission Bureau as well as that of Technology/Training topped the agenda.
The African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) injected new blood into its consultative bodies. From 5 to 6 July 2017, the Union held two institutional meetings in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast at Hotel Ibis-Plateau. The aim of this conclave was the renewal of the Technology/Training Commission Bureau whose chairmanship was held by Algeria and that of the Marketing/Sales/Communication Commission which was headed by Cameroon. Other issues like the Digitalization of African audiovisual archives, training as well as the Market Programme exchange also topped the agenda.
For this edition, 09 countries were supposed to work in the Marketing/Sales/Communication Commission: Algeria, Senegal, Uganda, Nigeria, Mozambique, Morocco, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon
The Technology/Training Commission for its part brought together 10 countries: Ivory Coast, Algeria, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Gabon, Ghana, Mali, Morocco and Senegal
On this occasion, the African Union of Broadcasting opened its doors to Associate Members (Eutelsats, Videoship and France Médias Monde, etc) who’ve made a significant contribution to the smooth running of the Union and took an active part in the celebrations marking AUB’s 10th Anniversary in February 2017.
Algerian-born Chawki Sahnine was re-elected president of AUB’s Technology and Training Commission
Dr Chawki Sahnine, Director General of Algeria Broadcasting (TDA) is the new chairman of the AUB’s Technology and Training Commission. He was re-elected on 6 July 2017 during the meeting of the Technology and Training Commission in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Senegalese-born Alioune Badara Ndoye who works with the Senegalese Radio and Television (RTS) was elected Vice-President while the post of Rapporteur was grabbed by Joel Thuto of DBS (Botswana).
Before his election, Mr Chawki Sahnine was already occupying the AUB’s Technology and Training Commission. However, given the many technological challenges faced by media professionals in Africa, there is still much left to be done.
We know, for example, that for some time now, the Union has opened a wide-range of innovative programs, particularly with regard to the Program Exchange Network.
To this end, ten new days have been given to the new President and his team to define the specifications this of Program Exchange Network. And a call for expressions of interest will be produced by the AUB.
The new Bureau of the Technology and Training Commission should also focus on training. While waiting for the panel of experts selected by the AUB to approve the Training Modules, Algeria is willing to organize in Algiers, in the near future, a training program on questions related to broadcasting in Africa.
Specialization is the other point on which Dr. Chawki Sahnine and his team will focus. To this end, three countries have already made available training centers to the Union: Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. It’s now left to African technicians and journalists to seize all the opportunities that will be offered to them.
I.G
The Ivorian Ahmadou Bakayoko is the new president of AUB’s Marketing Commission
The Marketing, Sales and Communication Commission of the African Union of the Broadcasting (AUB) has a new president. His name is Ahmadou Bakayoko, also known as Director General of “Radio Télévision Ivoirienne”(RTI).
He was elected during AUB’s last annual conclave organized on 05 and 06 July 2017 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Mr. Ahmadou Bakayoko replaces Cameroonian-born Emmanuel Wongibe, who is also Deputy General Manager of Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV). Mr. George Lomotey, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation's (GBC) Sports Head of Service now holds the Vice-Chairmanship of the Commission, while Ms. Khairat Bissane, the Marketing Manager of SNRT-Morocco is the new Rapporteur.
The AUB’s conclave provided opportunity for participants to focus on issues that influence the life of the Union.
During the Commission’s meeting, the "One Minute project", was at the center of discussions. It should be recalled that nearly fifteen countries across the continent have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of this project and AUB would like to enter its active phase by using independent producers and agencies to sell advertising spaces.
The Union will therefore rely on the maestria of Mr Ahmadou Bakayoko, the new President of the Marketing Commission and his team to emphasize on the marketing, sales and communication aspects of this project.
Also, it is expected from the new Bureau to mobilize flawlessly for the materialization of the project called AUB’s Mega musical production whose apotheosis is planned for March / April 2018. The venue of this highly awaited event would be made known in due time.
AUB’s Marketing, Sales and Communication Commission meeting was an occasion to re-brainstorm on the rebroadcast rights of sporting events. In this regard, the political steps taken with the African Union (AU) to present the resolutions of the Conference to Heads of States to the Pan-African Parliament (PP) at its next session will go forward.
Irène GAOUDA