A record number of over 1,200 entries have been received this year for the Asian Television awards out of which 78 programmes and 34 performances have been shortlisted for the final awards ceremony. The awards will be presented on 4 December 2001 during a live televised ceremony hosted by MediaCorp Television. The annual ceremony is part of a broader television industry week, which also includes the Asia Television Forum and Conference, and the one-day Strategic Summit held in Singapore.
Two new categories have been added this year. One of the categories added is for the best Station / Channel of the Year.
The Broadcaster of the Year award was based on the number of awards won by a company's stations, regardless of how many there are. Earlier on, during television's infancy, when there were fewer channels and less network consolidation, only parent broadcasters were recognised rather than individual stations.
Since the television industry has evolved and grown rapidly, the number of services controlled by single broadcasters too, have grown significantly. This has put broadcasters who do not have multiple services at a disadvantage in the Broadcaster of the Year category, hence the new category of Station / Channel of the Year has been introduced, which will allow all channels to compete on the same basis, regardless of whether they are part of multi-channel broadcasters or not.
Another new category addition this year is Best Youth Programme as young audiences in Asia are an increasingly important consideration in media buying and scheduling decisions.
The category, Best Wildlife programme, has been changed to Best Natural History or Wildlife programme.
The total number of categories for the Asian Television Awards 2001 has gone up to 26 with the two new additions
Countries participating in this event are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
A number of Indian programmes have been shortlisted in the programmes category for the finals on 4 December where the best programmes in Asia will be showcased.
These include:
Best current affairs programme - Hard Talk (India) produced by United Television for BBC.
Best childrens programme - Shakalala Boom Boom produced by UTV Software Communications Ltd for national broadcaster Doordarshan.
Best News/Current affairs special - Vote 2000 produced by New Delhi Television India for Star News.
Best Infortainment Programme- Kumbh Mela produced by MTV India Pvt.Ltd. and Wheels, Series-7 produced by Miditech (P) Ltd for BBC.
Most Imaginative programme - Hospital produced by Miditech for BBC.
In the performance categories of Asian TV Awards the following Indians have been shortlisted:
Best Current Affairs or Magazine Programme Presenter - Karan Thapar from United Television and Niret Alva of Miditech.
Best Light Entertainment Presenter / Performer - "Apro Dikhra" Cyrus Broacha of MTV India Pvt. Ltd.
