I count myself privileged to have witnessed some 400 industry professionals from across Asia gather at the Shangri-La, Singapore for the 17th Asian Television Awards (ATA) in December. Above are the post awards (read: relieved!) faces of the Contineo Media team, albeit with sweaty foreheads, who slogged all year to make this happen!

The above picture is a mere representation of course. The entire event is admittedly not just Contineo’s – we have so many to thank. A shout out to our generous sponsors Measat and Channel i; our local regulator Media Development Authority of Singapore, who continually support our efforts to unite and celebrate the industry’s achievements; to the judging panel who by now, MUST have discovered ingenious ways to stay awake while shuttling through the tons of entries we hurled their way; and to our event company who convinced us that a mammoth HD screen as centerpiece is way better than ballroom projectors – you saw it for yourselves!

In the midst of the festivities, I had taken time to ask some of our valued industry partners for feedback – not to pat myself on the back – but to listen intently on just how we may improve.

At the awards ceremony, some guests remarked that unlike previous years, it was particularly difficult this year to pinpoint just who would win the top four biggies, due to the lack of the usual suspects that would dominate the trophies tally. Perhaps this year’s event is testament to the changing nature of the industry – that we’re truly seeing increased competition with not just more players but more opportunities per player. To the broadcasters that find themselves winning fewer awards each year, I say that this is certainly not an indication of a dip in quality – it is clearly an acknowledgement that there are many more broadcasters out there producing award-worthy stuff to watch on tele! That MUST bode well for our industry.

We had some thumbs up for our day event, the ATA Showcase, where we invited industry professionals to share of their experiences from pre to post production. I’m proud to say we’ve secured the best in the business, with many speakers generously divulging tricks-of-the-trade that can only be beneficial to the wide-eyed attendees present. This year, we want to address the issue of having concurrent showcases which has deprived attendees from attending more than one showcase. We’ll fix that for the 2013 Showcase.

The afternoon Superpitch competition saw varied results. Judges reflected on the varying quality of entries. I’d like to add that we included first-time pitchers whose ideas and presentation ability are far from ideal, but the feedback received (plus business cards exchanged) will give many young producers the head start they need. I thank all the Superpitch judges for their harsh (very necessary in this business) but constructive criticisms. This year, we will continue to spread our “tentacles” and ensure a diversity of ideas from as many countries as possible that I think will make for a pitch competition that truly reflects the regional scale of our event.

On a personal note, I am grateful for the friends made in the process; friends who would assist us in big and small ways. It’s also nice to know that in an industry as vast and competitive as ours, we can be dressed-to-the-nines and applaud respectfully at competitors and yet still scream unabashedly (mass-hysteria style) to the Gangnam parody on stage!

Finally, while awaiting the next why-the-apocalypse-did-not-happen doc I know someone will surely make, I thought it best to reminisce about the news and deals that shook us, wowed us, and left us dumbfounded all-at-once this past year. You’d find all that, and more, on page 3. Flip on…