Macau’s public broadcaster TDM signed yesterday cooperation agreements with four television stations from Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), namely Angola, Cabo Verde, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe. The Cooperation Agreement signing ceremony took place at the TDM Forum II Studio in Zape.

According to a statement by TDM, the four agreements that allow for news content sharing between TDM and the partnered TV stations, as well as collaboration in technical training and talent development programmes, will promote knowledge exchanges between Macau and the Portuguese-speaking world, and enable further development of broadcast media technology.

The agreement was signed by TDM Chairman of Board of Directors António José de Freitas, Vice-Chairman Lorman Lo Song Man and representatives from the four Portuguese-speaking broadcasters.

Freitas said in his speech that he considered the signing of the four cooperation agreements as a “moment of historic importance”. He added that TDM would continue to make use of Macau’s unique cultural advantages to strengthen ties with the Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) world, in order to forge ahead Macau’s development towards “One Centre, One Platform and One Base”.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, Lo highlighted that TDM’s biggest advantage in this context is having Portuguese language TV channels operating, making it easier for Portuguese speakers from around the world to get to know about Macau. She recalled that in the last decade TDM has signed eight cooperation agreements with broadcasters in Portuguese-speaking countries.

Nelson Tavares Silva, director of São Tomé and Príncipe’s television broadcaster Santomean TV, told reporters that the Atlantic two-island nation’s broadcasting industry was currently going through an analogue-to-digital transition. He said he believed that TDM would play an important role in training the broadcaster’s staff as well as in diversifying of the country’s television programmes. 

Representatives from TDM and four TV stations from Portuguese-speaking countries pose for group photo on the sidelines of yesterday’s cooperation agreement signing ceremony at TDM Forum II Studio, including António José de Freitas (centre, first row). – Photo courtesy of TDM