Sony and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) have once again joined forces to recognise regional broadcast professionals with the ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award.
Now in its sixth year, the Award is conferred on an individual to recognise contributions of an outstanding nature in broadcast engineering and its related disciplines. In previous years, eminent broadcast engineers and researchers have been given recognition for their work through this award.
As well as a study tour – jointly organised by Sony and the ABU – the award also comprises a commemorative trophy, a citation and a life-time ‘Distinguished Observer’ status at meetings of the ABU Technical Committee.
The winner of the 2008 ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award, Takao Shimizu from Japanese broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) has now returned from a study tour in Hong Kong, Macau and Japan. Shimizu, who previously served as the Senior Vice-President in the technical wing of TBS, is currently the Executive Researcher at TBS.
The tour included visits to Sony’s Business and Professional Products Asia Pacific Company (BPPA) HK headquarters and the ‘CineAsia2008’ exhibition in Macau, where Sony made the first demonstration of its 3D digital cinema technology in Asia Pacific. There was also a visit to Sony’s research and production site, Kosai Tec in Shimizu also had the opportunity to meet with other broadcast professionals from the commercial and academic sectors to exchange of the latest technological developments of the industry.
Speaking of his experiences on the study tour, he said: “The Award provided me with an excellent opportunity to visit facilities at Sony and to witness advances Sony has made in broadcasting technology. I was impressed the way Sony has pushed broadcasting technology and become a frontier, always bringing new ideas to fruition.”
“At Sony, we are always looking at different ways through which our solutions and innovations foster the development of the broadcast industry. We are therefore delighted about partnering with ABU again for this year’s study tour where we can play a key role in facilitating the exchange of ideas and experiences among the industry professionals,”, said Kozo Fujita, Director of Business and Professional Products Asia Pacific Company, Sony Electronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.
“While it is a recognition of merit for the awardee, the collaboration between Sony and the ABU creates new synergies for the broadcasting industry in the region,” said Sharad Sadhu, the Director of the ABU’s Technical Department.
The ABU Award is reserved for current or former staff of ABU members within the Asia-Pacific region. Contributions to the broadcasting industry made during the last five years will be considered for the application of the award.