MUMBAI: The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) has launched its ninth annual international awards.

The awards will shine the spotlight on factual broadcasting, whether it is on radio, TV or on transmedia platforms. Entries for the 2013 AIBs are invited from all over the world and can be in any language. The last date for entry submission is 5 July.

The awards are independent of commercial interest and judged by a panel of independent media professionals.

AIB CEO Simon Spanswick said, "Winners have told us how much it means to be presented with an AIB Award. It is recognition of fantastic effort and skill given by their peers in the broadcasting industry. Being selected for the shortlist has also helped programmes to gain commercial success and programme-makers to develop their careers."

Broadcasters have bought featured programmes and producers have spotted rising talent. We?re proud to have helped talented people further their careers over the last eight years," he further added.

As well as live journalism and documentaries that inform debate, the AIB is also searching for the best in science programming, and the best children?s factual programme or series. For the second year there is an award for the best short documentary, feature or report - factual story-telling in less than ten minutes; this will represent this growing genre which is available not just from traditional broadcasters but also from online platforms such as YouTube and increasingly on the websites of newspapers and online news publishers.

Online upload and viewing capability will make the AIBs greener than in previous years. It will save entrants having to ship tapes and the judges, who are based all over the globe, will have easy access to the entries.

The winners will be announced at the AIB awards gala in London on 6 November 2013.

The AIBs also include awards for best TV and radio personality and for innovative production technology.

MUMBAI: The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) has appointed Amitabh Srivastava as its regional head in South Asia. The appointment comes as a first in a series of expansions of AIB?s work in a number of regions of the world.

As regional head, Srivastava will oversee the growth of AIB?s membership in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. These are countries where there is significant expansion in the number of TV channels and radio stations and a growing number of these broadcasters are developing international services.

He will also be able to assist AIB?s existing members who are seeking to develop their businesses in the South Asia region, drawing on his experience in working for a range of major international brands. He has also developed partnerships between media owners and mobile operators in South Asia.

AIB chief executive Simon Spanswick said, ?I am delighted to welcome Amitabh to AIB. He has worked in the media sector in India representing major brands for a number of years and has achieved remarkable successes. Now we look forward to Amitabh leading AIB?s growth in one of the world?s most dynamic and fastest-growing media markets.?

Srivastava said ?It is great to be joining the world?s leading industry association and supporting major international TV and radio broadcasters as well as service providers. I am looking forward to developing AIB?s membership base in South Asia and to involving more broadcasters from this region in global conversations.?

Srivastava joins AIB from Radio Netherlands Worldwide where he was country manager. While at RNW, he developed the first partnership between All India Radio and an international broadcaster, and achieved significant rebroadcasting and content syndication deals with commercial FM stations and new media platforms in the region. Before RNW, Srivastava worked with Walt Disney, BBC, MTV and a range of other international media houses developing their operations in India andSouth Asia.