AEEMA plans digital TV & radio forum

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 12 July 2006 14:15

IT Industry - Strategy

The Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA) is proposing to set up a new forum for the digital radio television industry, saying it is responding to demands from suppliers for a more coordinated approach to the planning and implementation of digital television and radio in Australia.
AEEMA is holding a series of meetings with the major consumer electronics suppliers to gauge the level of support for the Forum.

The move immediately follows an announcement  by the Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association (CESA) that it was moving to establish itself independent from AEEMA, which has provided its secretariat.

The interim chair of the Forum, Ross Henderson, said, "Many of the Digital Action Plan initiatives suggested by the communications minister, senator Helen Coonan, in her recent media statement would require a coordinated effort by digital television suppliers acting on a number of fronts including testing and conformance, labelling and marketing."

Henderson said the new group would also be seeking a role in the development of digital radio in Australia and would provide a link for the digital suppliers to AEEMA's Connected Home Forum and form an important pillar of AEEMA's ICT Australia division.

AEEMA CEO, Angus Robinson, said: "AEEMA is looking forward to broad industry support for the immediate establishment of AEEMA's Digital Suppliers Industry Forum with membership ranging from the major global manufacturers to small Australian based suppliers of digital broadcasting products and services."