(3 September 2005 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and NewOpenWorld Corporation, exclusive rightsholder of NewSevenWonders (N7W) have announced an agreement for collaboration in the promotion and marketing of the N7W television productions.

Through the agreement, the ABU will promote and encourage interest in the N7W productions within the Asia-Pacific region, with the aim of co-ordinating a collective rights acquisition on behalf of ABU member broadcasters.

The ABU-N7W partnership will provide ABU member broadcasters a first window to acquire the N7W television rights and to be recognised as Official Broadcast Partners of New7Wonders. The television rights on offer will include the Official Declaration of the New 7 Wonders of the World live event on 1 January 2007. This is an interactive documentary series ABU member broadcasters can choose the 7 Wonders of the World for broadcast next year which comes with highlights and packaged programming, tailored programming, and additional coverage of the New7Wonders World Tour to visit and promote the campaign in the 21 finalist countries.

ABU secretary general David Astley says, "The ABU is pleased to partner with N7W as this arrangement will offer ABU members first-rights opportunities, as well as aligning the interests of our larger members with the universal reach the ABU can provide through its extensive membership base.

"With 38 wonders nominated so far from the Asia-Pacific region, we expect the campaign and the television content to be of interest to audiences across the entire region."