Asia’s Got Talent Wins Best Adaptation at the Asian Television Awards

SINGAPORE (December 4, 2015) – AXN Asia scored a major win with Asia’s Got Talent at the 20th Asian Television Awards last night, taking home the Best Adaptation of an Existing Format this year.

The global hit ‘Got Talent’ format, which is co-owned by FremantleMedia and Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment, premiered on AXN in early 2015 across 20 territories in Asia; and was the first pan-regional edition of the format. During the season from March to May, Asia’s Got Talent set new ratings records for the English general entertainment genre taking AXN to the number one spot in its timeslot among all regional pay-TV channels collectively across Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

“The success of Asia’s Got Talent has been phenomenal and we are thankful for the recognition of this award, which reflects the hard work of our production, programming and marketing teams,” said Ang Hui Keng, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia. “We sincerely thank Fremantlemedia Asia for producing such a world class show, our partners: Marina Bay Sands, Big Cola, Pantene, Caltex, Jetstar, GrabTaxi and Great Eastern Life; the amazing contestants, our outstanding judges: Anggun, David Foster, Melanie C and Van Ness Wu; and especially the AXN viewers for their fantastic support.”

Billed as the biggest talent competition in the world, an impressive 63 versions of the international ratings phenomenon have now been commissioned worldwide across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle-East.

“We are thrilled with this win,” said Glenn Sims, Director, Creative Content, FremantleMedia Asia. “The Asian version of ‘Got Talent’ featured some of the most incredible performing artists ever on the show and AXN stayed true to the essence of the formula that has seen this format continue to dominate all talent competitions.”

Now in its 20th year, the Asian Television Awards recognizes and rewards programming and production excellence in the Asian television industry. The Awards draws about 1,400 entries each year from a wide range of broadcasters, including free-to-air TV stations and pay-TV platforms as well as many independent production houses in Asia.

Asian Television Award 2015: Best Adaptation of an Existing Format
AXN for Asia’s Got Talent
FremantleMedia, Syco Entertainment & Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia

About Asia’s Got Talent

Filipino shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra of Tanauan, Batangas, was crowned the first ever grand champion of Asia’s Got Talent during the results show held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. As grand winner, El Gamma brought home a cash prize of $100,000.

Celebrity judges included multiple Grammy-winning musician David Foster, UK pop sensation and former Spice Girl Melanie C, Indonesian rock icon Anggun and Taiwanese-American pop idol Van Ness Wu. The show was hosted by Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez and co-hosted by Singaporean Youtuber and Power98FM DJ’s Dee Kosh who provided sneak previews, highlights and behind-the-scenes commentary on social platforms.

In the Philippines, the season finale was the highest rated pay-TV program in the country since 2009, and commanded a 96 percent share among 22 English GE channels.

Based on data shared by Facebook, tremendous buzz was generated for Asia’s Got Talent online as interactions peaked when new episodes of Asia’s Got Talent aired every Thursday on AXN. A total of 6.56 million people contributed to Asia’s Got Talent social conversations and engagement; 17.7 million Asia’s Got Talent-related posts, comments, likes and shares were made – of which 4.7 million interactions took place after the final results show on 14 May. Exclusive premieres and behind-the-scenes Asia’s Got Talent video content garnered a total reach of 37.4 million.

Asia’s Got Talent was executive produced by Derek Wong (Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia); and Paul O’Hanlon (Fremantlemedia Asia).

Asia’s Got Talent was presented by Marina Bay Sands, Big Cola, Pantene, Caltex, Jetstar, GrabTaxi and Great Eastern Life.

About AXN

AXN is Asia’s leading general entertainment channel featuring exclusive top-rated drama series, blockbuster features, reality programs and groundbreaking original productions. Notable original series include four seasons of the international Emmy-nominated ‘The Amazing Race Asia’; the Asian Television Award-winning ‘Cash Cab Asia’; ‘The Apprentice Asia’; ‘Cyril: Rio Magic’; ‘Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition’; and the Asian Television Award-nominated ‘Cyril: Simply Magic’.

The channel appeals to a discerning audience seeking content that is smart, intriguing and unexpected, and all delivered close to U.S telecasts. From The Blacklist and Quantico, to The Voice and The Amazing Race Asia, AXN is defined not by a genre, but by an attitude that truly redefines action.
Launched first in Asia in 1997, AXN is a global channel brand with a presence in Latin America, Africa and Europe. In Asia, the channel is enjoyed in 85 million households across 20 territories.
AXN Asia is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, which also operates leading channels including Animax, Sony Channel, ONE and GEM.
www.AXN-Asia.com

For further information, please contact:
Jennifer Doig
Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia
Jennifer_Doig@spe.sony.com
+65 6622 4278

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