The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union is best described as:

A regional regulator assigning broadcasting frequencies to every station

A United Nations agency administering all international telecommunications

A non-governmental association promoting cooperation among broadcasters

A treaty organisation imposing binding media laws on national governments

An over-the-top media service delivers its content principally through:

Terrestrial television broadcast spectrum alone

A conventional cable television line alone

Short-wave radio transmission alone

An internet connection to the user's device

Prasar Bharati’s Two ABU Honours: Public-Service Messages and Broadcast Engineering

Why in news?

Prasar Bharati received two broadcasting honours during the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union's meetings in Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to DD News. Akashvani Bengaluru's Beyond the Call received a Special Commendation in the Audio Public Service Announcement category of the ABU Prizes 2026. Prasar Bharati engineer Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh received the separate ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award. The union brings broadcasters together to exchange programmes, develop skills and share technical knowledge. The recognitions highlight two parts of public broadcasting: creating useful content and building the systems that bring it to audiences.

A regional network of broadcasters

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) was established in 1964 and is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is a non-governmental, not-for-profit association whose members work in television, radio and digital media. Its current description lists around 224 organisations across 66 countries. This membership brings broadcasters operating in many languages and different media settings into a shared professional network.

The union supports programme exchange, professional training and cooperation on broadcasting technology. For example, its video news exchange platform allows participating broadcasters to access, manage and distribute multimedia material. Such an arrangement connects reporting organisations across borders. Its training activities help media professionals develop the production and technical skills needed to use changing tools.

How the union makes decisions

The General Assembly is the ABU's highest governing body. It includes Full, Additional Full and Associate members, with its powers set out in the union's statutes. The annual gathering brings member organisations together to consider the association's work and direction. The 63rd General Assembly and associated meetings in Colombo were scheduled from 30 October to 3 November 2026.

The Administrative Council acts as the union's board of directors. Its 18 members are drawn from Full and Additional Full members and elected for three-year terms. The council meets twice a year to consider policy, finances and current issues. This smaller elected body handles continuing governance between the wider membership's annual meetings.

Beyond the Call by Akashvani Bengaluru received an audio public service announcement Special Commendation; engineer Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh received Broadcast Engineering Excellence. — The programme commendation and the engineering award recognise different parts of broadcasting. Sources: DD News and ABU. Clarity original diagram.

What the two honours recognise

The ABU Prizes recognise programmes and digital content produced by member organisations. In the audio competition, a public service announcement focuses on a single issue of public interest. The category allows entries lasting up to 90 seconds and aims to build awareness within a particular cultural setting. A short format therefore asks producers to communicate one issue clearly within limited airtime.

DD News identifies Beyond the Call as Akashvani Bengaluru's commended entry. Jyoti Das received the recognition for the station. The report describes the programme as public-service communication that connects with communities and addresses public-interest concerns. Its category places the emphasis on the message and how an audio production communicates it.

The engineering award recognises technical work that supports broadcasting. The ABU's own 2026 winners page names Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh of Prasar Bharati for Broadcast Engineering Excellence. Broadcast engineering covers the systems used to produce and deliver sound and pictures. Reliable equipment and well-integrated technical processes allow programme makers' work to reach listeners and viewers.

Prasar Bharati's public-service and digital roles

Prasar Bharati is India's statutory public broadcaster, operating Akashvani radio and Doordarshan television under its 1990 Act. Its public-service objectives include truthful information, education, agriculture, health, science and coverage of India's diverse cultures. This mandate helps explain why a community-oriented audio message belongs within a national broadcaster's work alongside news, cultural programmes and entertainment.

At Colombo, Prasar Bharati also presented WAVES OTT, its internet streaming platform launched in November 2024. Over-the-top, or OTT, services deliver media through an internet connection to a user's device. WAVES brings together television, radio, films, documentaries, educational programmes and archival material. It provides a digital route through which audiences can find and use this content.

DD News reported more than 15 million registered users and 19 million downloads, with a presence in over 130 countries.

Conclusion

The two honours connect public-service messages with the engineering that delivers them. The ABU provides a regional setting in which broadcasters can compare that work, exchange material and develop skills. Prasar Bharati's digital presentation adds another delivery route to the radio and television services behind these honours.