ABU Prizes 2024

Contest Rules
The amendments to the Contest Rules of ABU Prizes were approved in April 2004, February 2005, February
2006, February 2007, September 2010, January 2011, March 2013, February 2014, February 2016, January
2018, February 2019, January 2020, January 2021, February 2022, March 2024
 ABU Prizes 2024 Contest Rules

Article 1 Preface
In 1964, the 1st General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), then known as Asian
Broadcasting Union, approved the establishment of an international competition for radio and TV programs
titled the ‘ABU Prizes’. During the 48th General Assembly (2011), the ABU adopted a resolution empowering a
working party to approve changes in the rules of the ABU Prizes in line with the ABU’s objective of promoting
excellence in broadcasting.

The ABU Prizes was decided to be held as an annual event and shall be governed in accordance with the terms
stated as below under the Contest Rules.

Article 2 Objective
The ABU Prizes aims to promote the excellence in content production in order to raise educational and cultural
standards and to strengthen international understanding among the people of the ABU member countries and
regions.

Article 3 Categories
The categories for awarding separate prizes are as follows:
i. Each of the seven (7) categories for radio/audio programs
ii. Each of the seven (7) categories for TV/screen programs
iii. Digital Media category for online contents

RADIO/AUDIO CATEGORIES:
# CATEGORY DESCRIPTION
1 Drama A single episode drama or one episode of a series. Each organization is eligible to
enter two items in this category: one short-form drama (15 minutes and under)
and one long-form drama (16-60 minutes).

2 Podcast An audio feature (or one episode of a series) made specifically for listening on
demand from online. Entries should be story-driven (i.e. not a news report or
single interview), demonstrating the special qualities of podcasting to connect to
individual listeners.
3 Documentary A single documentary or a feature or one episode of a series.
4 News Reporting Topical coverage of a single news event.
5 Community Campaigns or announcements on a single issue that is of public interest, and which
Service is not more than 90 seconds duration. The CSA should aim at creating public
Announcement awareness within its cultural context. Such a CSA should be produced inhouse.
(CSA)
6 On Air Work of a single on-air personality, either a single performance or a compilation.
Personality This could include DJ, host, presenter, anchor, news reader, traffic reporter, news
reporter and/or correspondent.

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 7 ABU Perspective A program that best delivers the message of ABU perspective on the theme of
Award global issue chosen by ABU members and illustrated through their local issue in
any form.
Theme for 2024: “Future”

Programs that inspire dialogue about the shape of things to come; from
innovation, to science, technology, or individual endeavor and envision the
possibilities that tomorrow holds. Entries can range from small and local to large
and global.
TELEVISION/SCREEN CATEGORIES:
# CATEGORY DESCRIPTION
1 Drama A single episode drama or one episode of a series/serials.
2 Documentary A single documentary or a feature or one episode of a series.
3 Entertainment Any non-drama, non-documentary, non-news program entertaining to all.
4 Children Any program, including educational program, targeted at viewers below 11 years
of age (elementary level).
5 News Reporting Topical coverage of a single news event.
6 Sports A single program about sports which includes event coverage, commentary,talk
shows or documentary.
7 ABU Perspective A program that best delivers the message of ABU perspective on the theme of
Award global issue chosen by ABU members and illustrated through their local issue in
any form.
Theme for 2024: “Future”

Programs that inspire dialogue about the shape of things to come; from
innovation, to science, technology, or individual endeavor and envision the
possibilities that tomorrow holds. Entries can range from small and local to large
and global.
DIGITAL MEDIA CATEGORY:
# CATEGORY DESCRIPTION
1 Digital Content Online media contents developed as an extension of existing screen or audio
Award programs and/or stand-alone original productions that are tailor-made using a
wide range of available digital tools.

Article 4 Special Jury Prize

Special Jury Prize recognizes programs which have made special impact on the jury, due to their subject
matter, treatment or production value.

Article 5 Eligibility
5.1 All ABU members are eligible to enter the competition.

5.2 – All entries submitted by the ABU members (except TV Sports) must be broadcasted for the first time
between 15 May 2023 – 30 June 2024.
– TV Sports category must be first broadcast between 15 May 2022 – 30 June 2024

5.3 Programs which have won a prize in any other international competition are qualified to be submitted.

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5.4 Entries must be free from political propaganda and/or commercial advertising or promotion.

Article 6 Entries
6.1 Each ABU member may submit only one (1) entry in radio and TV categories, except for Radio Drama –
where each member can submit one short form drama AND one long form drama; and Digital Media
Category & TV Sports Category, where each member can submit TWO entries.

6.2 Multiple entries from broadcasting associations are accepted, but only one (1) entry from each
category will qualify as a finalist.

6.3 Each radio entry (mp3 format) must include one (1) copy of English script, with a time code. TV
entries(mpeg4 format) are required to submit entries with any of the following:
• English subtitle
• English voiceover

6.4 Duration for radio and television categories are as follows:

DURATION FOR RADIO/AUDIO ENTRIES BY CATEGORY:

# CATEGORY DURATION
1 Drama Short Form Drama: up to 15 minutesLong
Form Drama: 16 – 60 minutes
2 Podcast 10 – 60 minutes
3 Documentary Up to 60 minutes
4 News Reporting Up to 5 minutes
5 Community Service Announcement (CSA) Up to 90 seconds

6 On Air Personality Please select your best 30 minutes, edited or

unedited sequence.
7 ABU Perspective Award Up to 60 minutes
DURATION FOR TELEVISION/SCREEN ENTRIES BY CATEGORY:
# CATEGORY DURATION
1 Drama Up to 90 minutes
2 Documentary Up to 60 minutes
3 Entertainment Up to 60 minutes
4 Children 10 – 60 minutes
5 News Reporting Up to 5 minutes
6 Sports Up to 60 minutes
7 ABU Perspective Award Up to 60 minutes

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SUPPORTING MATERIALS FOR DIGITAL MEDIA ENTRIES BY CATEGORY:
# CATEGORY DESCRIPTION
1 Digital Media Content and relevant new media links & supporting materials up to
60 minutes

6.5 All entries, along with the completed ABU Prizes entry form and additional requirement as requested in
accordance with Article 6.3, must reach the ABU Secretariat on or before the entry deadline, 30th June
2024.

Article 7 Pre-selection
7.1 For all categories and the Special Jury Prize the ABU Secretariat shall appoint at its discretion jury
memberswho shall pre-select and shortlist all entries received.

7.2 During pre-selection the jury may transfer/change the entry category at their discretion and resubmit it
inappropriate categories.

Article 8 Final Judging

8.1 The jury for all categories shall comprise of minimum five experts from ABU membership. The jury
members shall be appointed by the ABU Secretariat at its discretion, taking to account balanced
representation,expertise and other relevant considerations.

Article 9 Responsibilities of Pre-selection and Final Judging Jury

9.1 In both pre-selection and final judging process each jury shall follow the ABU judging guidelines in
assessing/evaluating the entries.

9.2 In pre-selection and final judging, a chairperson may be nominated from among the jury members.
Thechairperson shall prepare a written report approved by all jury members to be submitted to the
ABU Secretariat.

9.3 In the event of any entry being disqualified by the jury during the final judging, the chairperson shall
report the reason for disqualification to the ABU Secretary-General, who shall then convey it to the
member which submitted the entry.

9.4 The decision of the jury shall be final in both pre-selection and final judging.

Article 10 Prizes
10.1 In case the jury considers that none of the entries is worthy of a prize, they may decide not to award
thatprize in the year concerned.

10.2 In addition to finalizing the award winner(s), each jury may recognize one (1) entry from the finalists
foreach category with a special commendation award.

Article 11 Others
Any amendments shall be subject to further approval of the ABU Prizes Reform Working Party (hereafter, RWP).

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