BEST NEWS PRESENTER OR ANCHOR
Anna Coren. Anna Coren is an award-winning anchor and correspondent for CNN International. Every weekday she hosts the morning news program ‘World Report’, broadcast live from the network’s Asia Pacific regional headquarters in Hong Kong.
Coren has been a journalist for more than a decade and has reported on location from some of the biggest news events in Asia Pacific over the last couple of years, including the death of Kim Jung II, the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Thailand’s worst floods in 50 years, and the tourist bus hostage standoff in the Philippines. She was named “Best News Presenter/Anchor” at last year’s Asian Television Awards.
WINNER
Anna Coren
World Report
CNN International
Hong Kong
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Susan Li
First Up
Bloomberg LP, Bloomberg Television
Hong Kong
“I am humbled and honoured to receive this award for best anchor/presenter. I’d like to thank the committee at the Asian Television Awards for selecting me and I’d also to like to thank CNN for their support over the last 4 years.” – Anna Coren
BEST ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTER/ HOST
Oli Pettigrew. After eight years of international modeling in Hong Kong and Asia, a two-week holiday in Singapore propelled Oli to explore the next facet of his life – Television! Oli’s lightning wit and easy comedic demeanor helped him quickly climb the ladder from local photoshoots to magazines, international adverts, commercials, corporate videos, live hosting and finally heading an array of television shows.
Now based in Singapore, Oli’s impressive television portfolio spans the genre from travel and gadget shows to sports related and entertainment based shows. His recent gigs include TLC’s Lonely Planet: Best in China and Six Degrees: China series as well as AXN’s hit game show, Cash Cab Asia.
WINNER
Oli Pettigrew
Cash Cab Asia Season 1
SPE Networks-Asia Pte Ltd
AXN Asia
Singapore
Produced by activeTV Asia Pte Ltd
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Lisa Ray
Oh My Gold!
Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd, TLC
Singapore
Produced by Blue Mango Films
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Mark Lee
It’s A Small World
MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Channel 8
Singapore
“I’ve been working for six years now as a TV host and I am actually born in Asia and I’ve got a lot of respect for television in Asia. There’s no reason that the shows we make here shouldn’t be shown in the rest of the world. To finally get some recognition from the Asian TV Awards after six years and from Asian television as a whole is such an honour for me because Asia is my home, it’s where my soul is, so I felt a sense of acceptance finally.” – Host of Cash Cab Asia, Oli Pettigrew speaking to Television Asia Plus after his win
BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER
Barkha Dutt. Barkha Dutt is Group Editor with NDTV, India’s premiere news and current affairs network. She is one of India’s best known journalists and television anchors and is also the youngest journalist to receive the ‘Padmashri’, one of the country’s highest State honours. In a career spanning 16 years she has won over 40 national and international awards for journalism including the Global Leader for Tomorrow award from the World Economic Forum, the Commonwealth Broadcasters’ award for ‘Journalist of the Year’ and the Asian Television Award for “Best Talk Show.” Just this year she was nominated alongside Sir David Attenborough and Ross Kemp for “International TV Personality of the Year” at the AIB (Association for International Broadcasting) awards in London.
WINNER
Barkha Dutt
We The People with Hillary Clinton
New Delhi Television Ltd
NDTV 24X7
India
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Korina Sanchez
Rated K – Kwento ng Buhay Ko (This is my Life)
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation
ABS-CBN Channel 2
Philippines
“Thanks everybody, thank you Asia TV Awards, I’m collecting this award on behalf of Barkha who never misses an opportunity to thank the team but may I take this opportunity to thank Barkha for being the best anchor. Thank you!” – Yamini Joshi, on behalf of Barkha Dutt
BEST SPORTS PRESENTER/ COMMENTATOR
Dominic Lau. Dominic Lau made his debut on network television in 2005 and is now one of the most recognized faces on TV in Asia. Commonly referred to as Asia’s Ryan Seacrest, he is currently the anchor of E! News Asia. Prior to that, Dom presented a variety of shows for music network Channel [V] International as well as its sister channels STAR Movies & STAR Worldall part of the Fox International Channels platform.
Dom’s scope of work extends beyond E!. He hosted the popular game show The Showdown, aired on MediaCorp’s Channel 5 in Singapore, and currently hosts a weekly football show Tiger Goals on Sunday on Singapore’s SingTel on-air platform, Mio TV.
WINNER
Dominic Lau
Tiger Goals on Sunday
SingTel, MIO Stadium
Singapore
Produced by IMG
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Alan Wilkins
The Championships, Wimbledon 2011
ESPN STAR Sports
Singapore
“Firstly, I cannot accept this award without first acknowledging my fellow nominees who are all deserved of recognition for outstanding performances in their respective fields. They, like so many others, epitomize the high degree of talent that exists here in Asia. Thank you to the panel of judges who I know had their work cut out for them this year. But a sincere thanks to all the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the camera who make any television show possible. Finally, thanks also to the fans who pay their subscriptions to tune into the shows every week because, without whom, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It is so difficult to meet the expectations of the audience with original content given the plethora of channels and the emergence of IPTV. As such, I dedicate this award to you the audience – who matter more than you know.” – Dominic Lau
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Moses Chan. Moses started his career in films. The 41-year old star gained remarkable success in recent years while concentrating on his TV acting career with TVB. His career has especially been boosted by his role in the period drama War and Beauty. In 2007, he won both the Best Actor and Most Favourite Character Awards at TVB’s 40th Anniversary Award Show for his performance in the popular drama series Heart of Greed, and in 2010, he also picked up the prestigious Best Performance of the Year award.
WINNER
Moses Chan
When Heaven Burns
Television Broadcasts Limited
TVB, Jade Channel
Hong Kong
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Chen Jian Bin
Empresses in The Palace
Dongyang Flower Film&TV Culture Co., Ltd
Guangzhou TV
China
“Thank you ATA. Thank you for this great, great, great award. I’m glad to be here. And most, I’d like to thank you my company TVB, they fly out all the way from Hong Kong to give me support. Thank you and I wish everyone a pleasant evening. Thank you again.” – Moses Chan
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Rui En. Rui En has acted in numerous memorable roles in her 10 years of acting. In 2011, three dramas she starred in were among the Top 6 most-watch dramas on MediaCorp Channel 8. A Tale of Two Cities debuted with a record more than 1 million in viewership and Rui En’s fresh approach of a princessy character won further praise and conviction from the audience. The role earned Rui En a nomination for Best Actress at Star Awards 2012. Her scorching popularity has further been affirmed when she was recently voted into the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste for the 7th consecutive year at Star Awards 2012, as well as the Singapore E-Awards 2012 Most Popular TV Artiste for the third year in a row.
WINNER
Rui En
Unriddle II
MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Channel 8
Singapore
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Debbie Goh
The Descendant
Media Prima, ntv7
Malaysia
Produced by Juita Entertainment
“Thank you to the production team for giving me the opportunity and space to bring out the extremities of the role. “Hu Xiao Man” would not have existed without EP Paul Yuen and script writer Phang Kai Yee. “Hu Xiao Man” will always remain significant to me. Thank you, ATA.” – Rui En
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Lucas Luo. This is Lucas Luo’s debut as a supporting role for a TV series drama. Prior to this role, Lucas Luo has only appeared on commercials before taking on the role of a 5-year-old, mischievous child who likes to blend in with the grown-ups. During casting, the director fell in love with Luo’s innocence and purity. Playing a child who grew up in the woods, he follows his father, Man, to learn how to survive in the wild, constantly having to bite the bullet and show his courage and bravery while also maintaining a child’s timidity.
WINNER
Lucas Luo
Man • Boy
Public Television Service, Taiwan
Public Television Service Foundation, PTS
Taiwan
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Devarajan Varadarajan
Point of Entry Season 2
MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Channel 5
Singapore
“Firstly, we would like to thank the director for choosing Lucas among so many contestants during auditions. We also appreciate the instructions from the leading actor Lee Wei and the production team.
We’ve made a lot of efforts during the filming process travelling from north to south, mountain and sea around Taiwan. Most of all, there are many crying scenes for Lucas to perform in every episode. It’s really a challenge for him. Though the process was tough, it now proves to be really worthwhile. It is our great pleasure that Lucas was given this opportunity to play the “Boy” in Man Boy and has won the honorable ATA award.” – Lucas Luo’s parents, Sin-Jhih Luo and Adam Liou
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Nancy Wu. This is Nancy Wu’s first time playing a deaf-mute character, the Muay Thai boxer Ting Yan-Chi in Gloves Come Off. Raised in a poor family and physically disabled, Nancy’s character is a pessimist with low self-esteem; that is until she meets Tong Sap Yat who takes her in and trains her to be a Muay Thai boxer. To convey all her emotions using only gestures and facial expressions, Nancy devoted a lot of time learning the complex sign language, observing the physical and psychological behaviours of a deaf-mute person, as well as mastering the physically demanding discipline of a Muay Thai boxer.
WINNER
Nancy Wu
Gloves Come Off
Television Broadcasts Limited
TVB, Jade Channel
Hong Kong
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Pan Ling Ling
A Song to Remember
MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Channel 8
Singapore
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Jojo Goh
Forget Me Not
Media Prima, ntv7
Malaysia
Produced by Double Vision
“Thank you so much to Television Asia Plus and thank you to all the judges for giving me this support. It is my honour to be here tonight and to be receiving this award. This is so important to me. Thank you so much to my executive producer, writers, for giving me a great chance to perform this challenging role and thank you so much to my lovely company, TVB. Thank you.” – Nancy Wu
BEST COMEDY PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR/ ACTRESS
Michelle Chong. Michelle Chong is a bilingual and multi-talented actress/ host who has appeared on variety shows and dramas on Singapore’s Channels 5 and 8. She won the Elle Actress Of The Year Award (2008); the Asian Television Awards’ (ATA) Best Comedy Performance (Highly Commended) Award (2008) for her portrayal of Beh Li Choo, a butcher in the popular Peranakan dramedy, Sayang Sayang; and more recently, the ATA’s Best Comedy Performance (Highly Commended) 2010 for her multiple roles in The Noose 3.
WINNER
Michelle Chong
The Noose Season 5
MediaCorp Pte Ltd, Channel 5
Singapore
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Suhaimi Yusof
The Noose Season 5
MediaCorp Pte Ltd, Channel 5
Singapore
“Thank you to ATA for this prestigious award. This award means a lot to me because this could be the last time I’m appearing on The Noose. It’s a nice farewell souvenir to have.(departure from MediaCorp) And a heavy one! I also want to thank the Noose team for everything I have today. ‘Tanks Everybirdy tanks!’” – Michelle Chong
