Mr Raymond Wong, Managing Director, Reed Business Information Asia ,

Ms Catherine Wong, Organiser of ATA and Publisher of TV & Entertainment Group, Reed Business Information Asia ,

Dr Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer, Media Development Authority of Singapore

Distinguished judges of the 12th Asian Television Awards,

Friends, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am really glad to be here. In fact, I recall this is my second time that I have been to this occasion. And the Asian Television Awards have been going on for some 12 years now. And it has helped to honour the achievements of outstanding talents in the television industry in Asia as well as launched the careers of many in this region.

2 We all know that the ATA has also grown in prestige, stature and size. I’ve been told that t his year we received 1,370 entries from 60 companies across the region spanning some 14 Asian countries. And as Mr Wong said just now, it now includes Australia and New Zealand . And of these, 174 excellent entries are in the running tonight for some 29 awards. And these many entries, I believe, have reflected and embraced the diversity in Asia ’s cultures. This in turn, gives us the stage to leverage our unique, multi-faceted stories and to tell them from diverse perspectives and to tell these stories to the world.

High quality content for international audiences

 3 There are many good examples. Let me just cite a couple. Born Again Buddhists by Discovery Networks Asia, which I believe is a compelling documentary about the belief in reincarnation in Buddhist Tibet. I understand it is up for no fewer than four awards . Another is Super Cells by the National Geographic Channel, which is up for three awards. The common quality of all these programmes is that they achieve excellence from a technical perspective as well as the quality of their content and the fact that they can travel internationally.

4 I am glad from a local perspective that there are nine Public Service Broadcast programmes competing in various categories. They range from social commentaries to documentaries to compelling and inter-disciplinary and improvisational dramas. And I am also glad to see that t hese programmes are helmed and made entirely by local talents.

5 These programmes, like the others in the running, present a unique Asian perspective and offer insights which I believe will resonate with international audiences. They reflect the promise of a confident and rising Asia whose TV and film exports are making international audiences sit up and take notice. Awards such as the ATA play a critical role in nurturing, highlighting and showcasing these Asian talents.

Conclusion

6 I would like to congratulate all the nominees tonight. You have earned your place here and should take pride in your achievements. I also want to thank the panel of judges, led by Mr Man Shu Sum, Director of Strategic Relations and Director of the Singapore Film Commission at MDA , and his panel of judges for painstakingly sieving through all the numerous entries.

7 So on that note, let me wish good luck to all the nominees and hope everyone enjoys the fellowship and networking tonight. Thank you.

The 14 countries are Bangladesh , China , Hong Kong , Indonesia , India , Japan , Korea , Malaysia , Philippines , Pakistan , Sri Lanka , Singapore , Thailand and Taiwan .