Asian cultures plugged on TV

Asian cultures plugged on TV

SINGAPORE (DPA): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) may set up a satellite television channel to showcase the region's cultures, reports in Singapore said yesterday.

ASEAN representatives will discuss the idea at the ASEAN Information Ministers meeting in Bangkok in July, a Singapore official said.

The satellite channel would be part of an ASEAN drive to "exploit broadcasting and information technologies to promote an awareness of our cultures cost effectively", Singapore's deputy secretary for information and the arts, Choo Whatt Bin, said in an interview with the Straits Times newspaper.

"If the ministers are all keen and anxious to have the satellite channel up, it can be done quite quickly," Chew said.

"The programs are all ready. You just need to rent a transponder and take them from the national broadcasters" in each country, Choo explained.