The 2025 Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Media & Culture Days event, in partnership with Radio Romania, took place on 26  October 2025, hosted by CMG Group and MTV Channel (Private) at the Stein Studios in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

This year’s theme focused on risks, challenges and opportunities of Al for media and attracted over 70 delegates, featuring leading voices in media, academia, and policy from both the Asia-Pacific and European regions.

Mr Sashi Rajamahendran, Chairman of CMG, warmly welcomed delegates and acknowledged the timely and important nature of this year’s theme. In his opening remarks, Mr Ahmed Nadeem, ABU Secretary General, announced the launch of a new ABU AI hub and AI Principles. The principles contain some key points to provide guidance to members when developing their own regulatory frameworks within their organisations. The AI Hub is a new online platform that will feature examples, resources and case studies from members so they can learn from each other.

Ms Himali Hettihelage, Acting Director General of the National Intellectual Property Office, Sri Lanka, gave the keynote address and said that while we welcome the rise of AI, there is also a need to update existing intellectual property structures and frameworks to support innovation while protecting rights-holders. She said media convergence is a challenge to be addresses, but not something to be feared.

The first discussion focused on an overview of how AI is being used in Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Dr Natalia Beregoi, Consultant in Digital Transformation Services at the European Broadcasting Union, presented the latest findings on how European public service media are using AI, Craig McCosker, Group Product Manager at the ABC, talked about the different levels of AI usage across the Asia-Pacific and Associate Professor Michal Glowacki, from the University of Warsaw, presented research on how public media are adjusting to the rise of digital platforms.

During a discussion on guidelines and probable strategies on AI adopted by various broadcasters as public service broadcasters, Haruyuki Ichinohashi, Principal Program Director in the NHK Copyright and Contracts Division, and Chair of the ABU Intellectual Property and Legal Committee (IPLC), outlined the current approach to AI and copyright in Japan. Simona Martorelli, Director of International Relations at Rai, talked about how the European Broadcasting Union is focusing on four AI copyright principles. Jacqueline Foord, Head of the Board Secretariat and Corporate Governance at the ABC, and Vice-Chair of the ABU IPLC, informed attendees about the development of the ABC’s AI principles framework.

In a special presentation, Mr Francois Lavoir, Senior EU Policy Adviser at the European Broadcasting Union, shared insights into the European Union’s AI Act, one of the first comprehensive AI laws in the world. He talked in detail about how the act focuses on different classifications of AI systems.

As part of a session about the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of AI, some of the key themes that emerged were about the need for media organisations to be fairly compensated for their content, the value of embedding AI teams directly into content areas and the importance of self-regulation and strong codes of practice within media organisations. Nasri Noran, CEO of Media Prima Audio, highlighted the potential for AI to take on more process oriented tasks, enabling media professionals to be more creative.

Florin Brusten and Andrei Cretoiu, from Radio Romania, announced the launch of Work & Live, Romania: My Second Home, which is a new ebook focusing on documenting the stories of foreign workers living and working in Romania. This is a project that directly emerged from previous Media and Culture Days event.

The last two sessions of the day focused on radio and culture. Kim Hongbum, Executive Producer, Cool FM at KBS, talked about the creation of Station X, Korea’s first radio program hosted entirely by a generative AI DJ.

Dejan Vujovic, Deputy Director General, at RTVCG, explained how the public broadcaster is using AI to help preserve the Montenegrin language in a country of 600,000 people. Dr Dan Santa, Director of International Relations at Radio Romania, asked delegates to think about what would happen if there were no public media tomorrow and what would be lost.

During the day, a number of shared challenges – trust, transparency, security, the need for human oversight, and updated intellectual and regulatory frameworks, were highlighted across the European and Asia-Pacific regions. ABU Media & Culture Days’ role as a place where Europe meets the Asia-Pacific, and where culture and media meet—connecting perspectives, sharing solutions, and making new connections and partnerships—will help to foster more ongoing dialogue and information sharing to continue to address these challenges.