NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma has been elected vice-president of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) for a three-year term. Sarma was elected for the post un-opposed at the 39th general assembly of the ABU, which opened in Tokyo yesterday.

Sarma's election underlines the importance of India's role in shaping the future of public service broadcasting in the world's fastest developing Asia-Pacific region, according to a Prasar Bharati press release.

Gemstar CEO Henry Yuen resigned last month after an accounting review by the board's audit committee, and last week the company fired its accounting firm, KPMG LLP.

The ABU is made up of 100 broadcasters from 49 nations and territories of the Asia and Pacific region. It provides a platform for cooperation in the field of news and programme exchange, acquisition of broadcast rights, training and technical consultancy.

National broadcaster Doordarshan and All India Radio are among the most active members of the ABU, the release says.

The focus of the 39th General Assembly in Tokyo is on the role of broadcasting in the 21st century and how broadcasting can solve such global issues such as education and environment. More than 400 delegates are attending the current ABU general assembly.

Prasar Bharati is being represented by Sarma, director general Doordarshan Dr SY Quraishi and Doordarshan engineer-in-chief RK Gupta.