TV BRICS to present integration potential of BRICS and ASEAN | Sada Elbalad
Countries across Southeast Asia and the BRICS community are deepening their media integration through the TV BRICS International Media Network. In April 2026, Malaysia’s leading broadcaster, Astro AWANI, joined the collaboration, marking a significant step toward broader editorial exchange and shared storytelling between ASEAN and BRICS audiences.
A new step in ASEAN–BRICS media integration
The cooperation agreement in media communications was signed by TV BRICS CEO Janna Tolstikova and Astro AWANI Acting Editor-in-Chief Zaiful Ariffin. The partnership focuses on coordinated editorial planning, joint professional development for newsroom teams, and a stronger international profile for media content originating in ASEAN and BRICS countries.
With TV BRICS support, Astro AWANI will gain access to news and features from partner outlets across multiple countries, sourced directly from original media providers. In turn, Astro AWANI will be able to amplify its own reporting to audiences abroad, contributing Malaysian perspectives to a wider global conversation.
Why this cooperation matters
According to Zaiful Ariffin, a robust international presence is vital for Malaysia as it advances the perspectives of the Global South, attracts investment and technological collaboration, and reinforces the country’s voice in multilateral arenas. He noted that collaboration with TV BRICS enables Astro AWANI to expand its editorial reach while preserving balanced, critical coverage for its audiences.
About Astro AWANI
Established in 2007, Astro AWANI is part of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad, one of Southeast Asia’s largest media groups in satellite television and digital media. The outlet is known for in-depth socio-political coverage spanning the economy, environment, education, culture, and sports, and it publishes in both Malay and English. Its inclusion in the TV BRICS network brings a prominent Malaysian platform into a growing ecosystem of cross-border media cooperation.
TV BRICS’ expanding footprint in Southeast Asia
TV BRICS collaborates with leading media organisations in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, building a diversified editorial bridge across Southeast Asia. In 2025, the Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA) joined the network’s multilateral content exchange, further strengthening Malaysia’s role within this regional and international media space.
A growing global network
Today, TV BRICS works with more than 100 media organisations from over 30 countries, and its information presence extends to 80 countries. The addition of Astro AWANI underscores the network’s mission to facilitate original content exchange, broaden access to reliable regional reporting, and support professional development that raises newsroom standards across borders.
Outlook
This partnership showcases the integration potential between BRICS and ASEAN media markets: more diverse news flows, improved editorial capacity, and wider international visibility for national narratives. As content sharing and joint initiatives gain momentum, audiences across both regions can expect richer, more contextual coverage of developments shaping economies, societies, and cultures throughout the Global South.
