Awards
Asian Television Awards 2002 nominations open
MUMBAI: The list of 119 nominations for seventh annual regional Asian Television Awards have been released.
More than 115 programmes and performances from 12 countries have been nominated for the awards. 1,300 entries including a record number of entries from Japan and China were received from 14 countries, states an official release. The participation this year is nine per cent higher than last year, it adds. The award function to be held in Singapore on 4 December 2002, will be aired live on leading television channels in 11 countries across the region.
The Indian nominations for the awards include four programmes by NDTV; Star News Hour for best news programme, Reality Bites: Mental Health in Kashmir and Witness for best current affairs programme and Sports Tonight for best sports programme . In addition, Lion of Gir by Miditech Ltd has been nominated for best natural history or wildlife programme and HardTalk Pakistan by Infotainment Television Pvt Limited for BBC World for the best talk show award. Popular game shows like Bournvita Quiz Contest on Zee TV, Khelo Number Khelo again on Zee TV and Kaun Banega Crorepati on Star Plus have been nominated for best game or quiz show. Also, Sonu Nigam has been nominated for best light entertainment presenter/ performer award.
“The number of entries for the Asian Television Awards has more than tripled in the past five years. The increased interest is a definite sign that Asian producers are more confident of the quality of their product and are more willing to pitch their creations against fellow producers in Asia,” Asian Television Awards, chairman of judges, Jonathan Hallett is quoted as saying in the release.
The 29 Awards cover a wide range of genres, including drama series, comedy, tele- movie, current affairs, youth and sports. Two new categories ‘Best Talk Show’ and ‘Best Original Song’ have been added this year, to cater to the growing diversity of locally produced genres in the region, says the release. Interestingly, 61 entries have been received for the new categories.
Highlighting the trends observed this year, the release states that there was not only an increase in the number of interactive programmes entered but a marked rise in the number of documentaries put forward by broadcasters and production houses from across the region as well. Music and variety shows were also more lavish than in previous years, with many more high-budget contenders, it adds.
“Interestingly the range of topics addressed in many categories was also more controversial than in previous years, including issues such as homosexuality, mental illness, child abuse, domestic violence, and dealing with poverty in old age. This indicates a significant increase in Asian stations willingness to address and deal with sensitive topics in a variety of ways,” says Hallett .
This year’s entries were assessed by almost 50 judges from 11 countries sitting on seven juries held across the region.
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
