About the CBA
Mission and Organisation
View the: CBA Constitution | 2008 Annual Report | 2008 Financial Results
The CBA is funded by subscription from members of the major public service broadcasters of the Commonwealth.
OBJECTIVES:
- Further the concept of public service broadcasting
- Foster freedom of expression and the right to communicate
- Provide assistance to its members through training, bursaries, consultancies, networking opportunities and material for broadcast
- Provide a point of contact and a forum for discussion
- Assist in the exchange of information among members and help them to share knowledge and skills
- Encourage quality broadcasting through its awards programme
- Promote the values of the Commonwealth and encourages creativity
- Improve and increase coverage of the developing world via the UK broadcast media, specifically mainstream television -- through the CBA-DFID Broadcast Media Scheme
History
The CBA was founded in February 1945 at the Commonwealth Broadcasting Conference. The first meeting, held in London, brought together representatives of a number of broadcasting organisations that had co-operated closely in reporting the Second World War. It began with six members and is today an association of more than 100 broadcasting organisations in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Australasia, the Pacific, North and South America.
The title "Commonwealth Broadcasting Association" was adopted in Malta in 1974 as well as the CBA charter, which set out the principles and aims of the association stipulating that membership "shall be open to publicly owned national public service broadcasting organisations, or groups of such organisations, which are responsible for the planning, production and presentation of broadcast programmes in Commonwealth countries". This was modified in 1995 to allow for membership of commercial companies with a commitment to public service broadcasting and to allow for affiliate membership.
Following the first conference in Britain in 1945, a subsequent meeting was again held in Britain in 1952 and then in Australia (1956), India (1960), Canada (1963), Nigeria (1965), New Zealand (1968), and then on a regular basis every two years continuing with Jamaica (1970), Kenya (1972), Malta (1974), Singapore (1976), Mauritius (1978), Australia (1980), Canada (1982), Hong Kong (1984), Britain (1986), The Bahamas (1988) Cyprus (1990), Botswana (1992), Canada (1994), Malaysia (1996), Gibraltar (1998), South Africa (2000), Britain (2002), Fiji (2004), Delhi (2006) and Nassau (2008).
Legal Advice
The CBA has a pro Bono Legal adviser, Bindmans, and is grateful to them for their legal advice. You can visit them via their website.