Kuala Lumpur – Muay Thai boxing reality show The Contender Asia will return for a second season, despite rumours to the contrary. Based on Mark Burnett Productions’ format The Contender, the Asian version is being produced by Imagine Omnimedia, who were responsible for the first season and who are also currently producing The Biggest Loser Asia for Hallmark Channel in the region. Filming on location in Malaysia is scheduled to start after the month of Ramadan, during which participating Muslims refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. It was rumoured that a backer in Malaysia had withdrawn support and that production crew were boycotting The Contender Asia 2 due to lack of payment. Imagine OmniMedia’s Riaz Mehta said those rumours are, “Not true at all. Our partners in Malaysia have been on board for over a year, they are backing the show and continue to do so. Everyone has been paid and we always take care of our people,” he said. Mehta said the decision was made to move the production from Singapore after the Malaysia-based Osys Group of Companies, managed by Muhd Shah Azmi, offered its financial support End-May 2009 saw a press conference chaired by the Honourable Minister of Tourism Malaysia, YB Dato’ Seri Ng Yen Yen at the Tourism Malaysia headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Contender Asia was scheduled to start on 31 July and to air on AXN from October onwards. Speaking on behalf of AXN, Sony Pictures Entertainment Networks Asia’s Ricky Ow said the network is working on an official announcement about The Contender Asia 2’s start date. He said there had been some delays, but the show would definitely be going ahead and is tentatively scheduled to air early in 2010.
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