ABC joins Asia-Pacific TV Song Festival

EXCLUSIVE: ABC managing director David Anderson will attend the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union general assembly in Tokyo next month, while Aussie Dan Sultan will perform at the Asia-Pacific TV Song Festival on behalf of Australia.

It’s the first time the public broadcaster is participating in the event to be held in Tokyo on November 19. SBS has also previously been a participant.

The event is a showcase of performers and not designed as a competition, however it is a fore-runner to the first ABU Song Contest to be held in April in Qingdao, China. The entry was organised by ABC International.

An ABC spokesperson told TV Tonight, “The ABC is delighted to have re-joined the ABU after a five year hiatus.

“To mark the occasion, our managing director David Anderson is attending the ABU general assembly in Tokyo in November 2019; and Dan Sultan, one of Australia’s most beloved Indigenous musicians, will represent the ABC at the Tokyo TV Song Festival, a non-competitive gala event that showcases the music of the Asia Pacific region to ABU member broadcaster audiences.

“This year the host broadcaster for the ABU general assembly and for the Song Festival is the Japanese public broadcaster NHK. The ABU has run this event for a number of years in conjunction with its member broadcasters.”

A planned Asia-Pacific version of the Eurovision Song Contest, originally due in 2017 with SBS as host broadcaster, is yet to eventuate amid speculation securing Chinese interest has been problematic.

ABC ME is Australian broadcaster of Junior Eurovision next month with 14yo Jordan Anthony.

Dan Sultan is one of Australian’s most beloved Indigenous singer-songwriters. Straddling genres from rock and roll to blues, gospel and even children’s music, his music explores life in modern Australia. He has won three ARIA Awards (and been nominated for 13), the highest honor for an Australian musician. He has won numerous Indigenous Music awards, appeared in iconic Australian films, and his records have topped ARIA charts and been certified Gold. He is been described as one of this country’s finest vocalists and guitarists. Dan Sultan continues to live up to his reputation as the songbird of our generation.

Update: David Anderson has cancelled his plans to travel.

An earlier version incorrectly stated David Anderson would attend the ABU Song Festival. Anderson was to attend the ABU general assembly.