News Broadcasting
Two new categories in this year’s Asian Television Awards
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.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
