SIX regional broadcasters, including national broadcaster MediaCorp, have signed an agreement to work together.
The pact, signed on Tuesday, aims to help them cut operating costs, acquire new customers, and share the costs of new projects like a pan-Asian reality singing contest.
Besides MediaCorp, the other broadcasters that make up the Smart Alliance are the Philippines' ABS-CBN, Thailand's Bangkok Broadcasting & TV Company, Vietnam's International Media Corporation, Indonesia's Media Nusantara Citra and Malaysia's Media Prima.
Broadcasters are all facing a challenging operating environment due to the global crisis, said MediaCorp chief executive officer and the group's steering committee chairman, Mr Lucas Chow.
By working together, he said, member will have better bargaining power when buying equipment and content.
Members will also benefit by being able to share the cost of new co-productions like, a pan-Asian reality-singing contest, said ABS-CBN president, Ms Charo Santos-Concio.
