Asian TV Awards 2008 (List of Nominees)

The Asian Television Awards is the only event in the region to showcase, recognize and reward program and production excellence in Asia. These awards of merit are presented annually by leading trade publication Television Asia Plus supported by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA).

Now in its 13th year, the award presentation ceremony is considered among the most prominent and prestigious, and is the only pan-regional, event of its kind in Asia.

After over a decade of holding judging sessions at hotels in various Asian countries, this year’s judging process is being into the digital era and being conducted on-line. Designed to lessen the Judges’ workload, online judging provides greater comfort and flexibility, enabling judges to screen the entries at their own pace over a period of three weeks.

Up to six nominations are made in 29 categories. Awards are also given to the Terrestrial Broadcaster of the Year and the Cable & Satellite Network of the Year. All voting results are tabulated by international auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Secrecy is maintained – results are not revealed until the awards night.

A 24-hour technical customer service is provided to help guide our Judges step by step through the process of judging – from the logging in and screening to the scoring of videos.

Here are the Asian TV Awards 2008 nominees:

PROGRAMMING CATEGORY

Best Documentary Programme (30 mins or less): Spirit of the Times- Chinese Contemporay Art: Heroism or Confusion (Channel NesAsua/MediaCorp Pte Ltd/Singapore), China 21- Adili Skywalker (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Twilight Years (Treesixzero Productions Pte Ltd./Singapore), The Lost Tribe Secret Array of the Cia (Al Jazeera English/Malaysia), China 21- The People's Dumplings (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), and China 21- Go Buddha Boys (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore).

Best Documentary Programme (31 mins or more): Kingdom of Elephants (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore, Brat Camp China (National Geographic Channel Asia/Singapore), Miracle Body- Running: Built for Record Speed (NHK- Japan Broadcasting Corp./Japan), SBS Special Forgiveness, The Endless Journey Salvation (SBS- Seoul Broadcasting System/Korea), A Bride, Her Last Message- A 24 Hour Year Old Who Battled Breast Cancer (Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc./Japan), and Big Wall Challenge (NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp./Japan).

Best Natural History or Wildlife Programme or Docu-drama: Soul of a River (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Life in Harmony with Nature: Bamboo Forest- Yunnan Province China (NHK- Japan Broadcasting Corp./Japan, Soul of a River- Cambodia (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore, Kingdom of the Elephants (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore, and Black Bears Unleashed (National Geographic Channel Asia/Singapore).

Best News Programme: CNN Today (CNN International/Hong Kong), The Earth in Crisis 2008 (TV Asahi Corporation/Japan), News at Seven: Quarke Relief Day Four (I-Cable News Limited/Hong Kong), World News Asia (CNN International/Hong Kong), News at Seven: Magnitude-8 Sichuan Earthquake (I-Cable News Limited/Hong Kong, and India at 9 (ibn 18 Broadcast Limited/India).

Best Single News Story/Report: China Quake Orphan by Kyung Lah (CNN International/Hong Kong), Sichuan Earthquake: Landslide (Now TV/China), China Quake: Wedding (CNN International/Hong Kong), News at 6:30- Demolition of the Queer's Pier (Television Broadcasts Limited/Hong Kong), and Myanmar Cyclone Ground Zero by Dan Rivers (CNN International/Hong Kong).

Best Drama Series: Rookies (Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc./Japan), Lee San, Wind of the Palace (Munwha Broadcasting Corporation/Korea), Sikgaek- The Grand Chef (JS Pictures, Inc./South Korea), The Hidden Hero (Shanghai Media Group/China), Coffee Prince (Munwha Broadcasting Corporation/Korea), Wang Zhaojun (Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation/China), Money of the War Part 1 (SBS- Seoul Broadcasting Corporation/South Korea), and Galileo (Fuji Television Network, Inc./Japan).

Best Single Drama or Telemovie Programme: Sorapuchi (Hokkaido television Broadcasting Co., Ltd./Japan), Long Road to Heaven (Pt Kalyana Shira Film/Indonesia), Singapore Short Story Project: The Other (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), Manam Series 2 - Ep. 7 (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/ Singapore), Goodnight DJ Ep. 8 (Metropolitan TV/Malaysia) and The Secret of Death from Padigal 2 (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore).

Best Comedy Programme: Camera Café (Euro-Asia Media Group Ltd/Philippines), Akhirnya Datang Juga Plus-Plus - Ep. 8 (PT Dunia Visitama Produksi/Indonesia), Raberd Thurd Theung (Workpoint Entertainment Public Company Limited/Thailand), Bubble Gang (GMA Network, Inc./Philippines), Akhirnya Datang Juga Plus-Plus - Ep. 34 (PT Dunia Visitama Produksi/Indonesia).

Best Current Affairs Programme: The Lost Tribe - Secret Array of the CIA (Al Jazeera English/Malaysia), Face of the Nation (ibn Jazeera English/India), People and Power- Coal Face (Al Jazeera English/Malaysia), March of the Saffron Robes (Channel NewsAsia, MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore, and Inside Myanmar- The Crackdown (Al Jazeera English/Malaysia).

Best Children's Programme: Gali Gali Sim Sim Ep. 3: Chamki Karate (Miditech Pvt Ltd/India), R.E.M.- The Next Generation (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd- TV12/Singapore), Daddy Mummy Be My Boss (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), School House Rockz (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd- TV12/Singapore), Blue Water High (Southern Star International/Australia), and Lovely Day: LD Force of the Guardians versus Sireenasaurus (GMA Network, Inc./Phillipines).

Best Entertainment (One-off/Annual): Wedding Affair Grand Finals (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), U Are The One- Grand Final (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), POGO Amazing Kids Awards (Turner Entertainment/Hong Kong), and The THK Charity Show 2008 (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore).

Best Entertainment Programme: Celebrity Coach (Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation/China), The Arena Ep. 12 (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), Happy Citadel (Hunan TV/China), The Week That Wasn't (IBN 18 Broadcasting Limited/India), Super Trio Supreme #3 (Television Broadcasts Limited/Hong Kong), and Magic Asia India Ep. 1 (SPE Networks- Asia Pte Ltd./Singapore).

Best Game or Quiz Programme: Lharn Phoo Koo E-Joo (Workpoint Entertainment Public Company Limited/Thailand), All Star K! The 1 Million Peso Videoke Challenge (GMA Network, Inc./Philippines), Foodie 2 Shoes #13 (Television Broadcasts Limited/Hong Kong), Fan Pan Tae (Workpoint Entertainment Public Company Limited/Thailand), Yok Siam (Workpoint Entertainment Public Company Limited/Thailand), Takeshi Kitano Presents: Heisei Kyoiku linkai (Fuji Televison Network, Inc./Japan), and Black Box (Workpoint Entertainment Public Company Limited/Thailand).

Best Music Programme: Musik Spesial ‘Slank' (PT Televisi Transformasi Indonesia/Indonesia), AF6 Finale (Astro Production Sdn Bhd/Malaysia), Kinkakuji Sound Stage (Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc./Japan), and Anugerah Juara Lagu 22 (Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad- TV3/Malaysia).

Best Reality Programme: Reunions (GMA Network, Inc./QTV 11/Philippines), The Work Goes On- Getai Ep. 1 (August Pictures Pte Ltd/Singapore), Nature's Platform- Desserted Dogs for Evacuated Village (SBS- Seoul Broadcasting System/Korea), Brat Academy (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Into Mt. Yuzhu #4 (Television Broadcasts Limited/Hong Kong), and We Are A Beloved Family (Shanghai Media Group/China).

Best Infotainment Programme: Lead Me On (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), Tales of Four Cities (Channel NewsAsia, MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), Zero Complaints (Munwha Broadcasting Corporation/Korea), Bring It On, Beijing (Channel NewsAsia, MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), Find Me a Singaporean II (ThreeSixZero Productions Pte Ltd/Singapore), All Things Paper (Channel NewsAsia, MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), and So Simple II (ThreeSixZero Productions Pte Ltd/Singapore).

Best Talk Show: Empat Mata Eps. Kolektor (PT Duta Visual Nusantra Tivi Tujuh- Trans7/Indonesia), Love Just Aint's Enough (China Business Network Co.,Ltd TV/China), State of the Nation (ibn 18 Broadcast Limited/India), The Destiny of China (Shanghai Media Group/China), Talk Asia (CNN International/Hong Kong), Rouge Ep.13 (MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd./Singapore), Culture Matters (Inernational Channel Shanghai/China), and Finding Roots- Mencari Akar Di Luasnya Dunia (Pt. Media Televisi Indonesia/Indonesia).

Best Animation: Turtle (Miditech Pvt Ltd./India), Dogstar Ep. 16- Hounded (Media World Pictures/Australia), Hoshi Shinichi's Short Shorts (NHK- Japan Broadcasting Corp./Japan), Chhota Bheem (Turner Entertainment Networks Asia/Hong Kong), Chiro (Inconic Entertaiment Co. Ltd/Korea), and Ostrich (Miditech Ptv Ltd/India.

Best Social Awareness Programme: China 21- Green Wall of China (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Robot Jockey (National Geographic Channel Asia/Singapore), Moving Mountains- Computer School on a Wheelchair (Beijing Key Frame Cultural Development Co., Ltd./China), and Documentary 24x7: Rajasthan- An Aids Diary (New Delhi Television Ltd./India).

Best Adaptation of an Existing Formats: The Amazing Race Season 2- Ep.11 (SPE Networks Asia Pte Ltd./Singapore), Lufthansa Nat Geo Genius- Ep. 24 (Miditech Pvt Ltd/India), Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus (ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation/Philippines), and Skatoony (Turner Entertainment Networks Asia/Hong Kong).

PERFORMANCE CATEGORY:

Best News Presenter or Anchor: Susan Li (Asia Business Tonight/Bloomberg L.P./Japan), Anjali Rao (World News Asia/CNN International/Hong Kong), Hugh Riminton (CNN Today/CNN International/Hong Kong), Andrew Stevens (World News Asia/CNN International/Hong Kong), Martin Soong (Squawk Box/CNBC Asia Pacific/Singapore), Amanda Drury (Squawk Box/CNBC Asia Pacific/Singapore), and Kristie Lu Stout (CNN Today/CNN International/Hong Kong).

Best Current Affairs Presenter: Karan Thapar (Devil's Advocate/ibn 18 Broadcasts Limited/India), Vikram Chandra (The Big Fight/New Delhi Television Ltd/India), Anjali Rao (Talk Asia/CNN International/Hong Kong), Christine Tan (Managing Asia/CNBC Asia Pacific/Singapore), Nidhi Razdan (Left Right & Centre/New Delhi Television Ltd/India), and Barkha Dutt (We the People/New Delhi Television Ltd/India).

Best Entertainment Presenter: Guo Liang (Lead Me On/MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), Aznil Haji Nawawi (Jangan Lupa Lirik/Astro Production Sdn BhdMalaysia), Quan Yi Fong (Buzzing Cashier/MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), Eric Tsang (Super Trio Supreme #3/Television Broadcasts Limited/Hong Kong), Denise Lorraine Keller (MTV Pop Inc./MTV Asia LDC/Singapore), Bryan Wong (Maria Is Not Home/MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), and Phanya Nirunkul (Black Box/Workpoint Entertainment Public Company Limited/Thailand).

Best Drama Performance by an Actor: Huang Wen Yong (Just in Singapore/MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), Patrick Teoh (En Bloc/MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore), Raymond Lam (The Master of Tai Chi/Television Broadcasts Limited/Hong Kong), Melvin Sia (Love Is All Around/natseven TV Sdn Bhd/Malaysia), and Lim Kay Tong (En Bloc/MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd/Singapore.

Best Drama Performance by an Actress: Pan Li-Li (Astemisia/Public Television Service Foundation/Taiwan), Chiranan Manochaem (The Slave/Bangkok Broadcasting & TC Co., Ltd.,/Thailand), Jeanette Aw (Rhythm of Life/MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd./Singapore), Wan Fang (Long Vacation/Public Television Service Foundation/Taiwan), Patricia Mok (Just In Singapore/MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd./Singapore), and Piyathida Woramusik (The Slave/Bangkok Broadcasting & TV Co., Ltd./Thailand).

Best Comedy Performance by an Actor/Actress: Ogie Alcasid (Bubble Gang/GMA Network, Inc./Philippines), Shahkrit Yamnam (Pentor/Scenario Co., Ltd./Thailand), Michelle Chong (Sayang Sayang/MediaCorp Singapore Pte Ltd./Singapore), Cyrus Broacha (The Week That Wasn't/ibn 18 Broadcast Limited/India), Michael V. (Bubble Gang/GMA Network, Inc./Philippines), and Choosak Iamsuk (Raberd Thurd Theung/Workpoint Entertainment Public Company Limited/Thailand).

TECHNICAL/CREATIVE CATEGORY

Best Cinematography: Kingdom of the Elephants (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Goodnight DJ Ep. 2 (Metropolitan TV/Malaysia), Revealed Hajj (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Goodnight DJ Ep.8 (Metropolitan TV/Malaysia), and Soul of a River- China (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore.

Best Direction: China 21- Go Buddha Boys (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Kingdom of the Elephants (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Soul of River- China (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Outrageous Fortune Series 3- Ep. 22 (South Pacific Pictures/New Zealand), Revealed Hajj (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), and Portraits of Taiwan- Jimmy Liao (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore).

Best Editing: Tales of Mekong (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Man Made Marvel- Beijing Airport (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Ultimate Olympics- Go Beijing (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Take Off- The A380 Saga (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), Kingdom of the Elephants (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore), and Revealed Hajj (Discovery Asia, Inc./Singapore).