Banff, NHK Re-Team for Asian Program Award

TORONTO, January 6: For
the second consecutive year, the Banff World Television Festival and Japanese
pubcaster NHK are teaming up to acknowledge the best TV programs from or about
Asia with the NHK Best Asian Program Prize.

NHK has committed C$20,000
for the winner, which will be announced at the 2009 Banff World Television
Awards Ceremony. The deadline for submissions is February 16. Eligible entries
include all programs produced in Asia as well as programs produced elsewhere
with the primary content being about Asia or Asian subject matter.

"NHK is a leader in
public broadcasting and an advocate for Asian content and programs produced
around the world," said Peter Vamos, the executive director of the Banff
World Television Festival. "We are proud to partner with NHK once again to
honor excellence in television programming and celebrate the diversity in Asian
cultures."

"Asia is full of
stories waiting to be discovered," added Fumio Narashima, NHK's head of
international program development. "It's a very diverse region of
countries each with their own distinct language, culture, and religion. These
differences mean that program-making in and about Asia can be extremely
challenging and, at the same time, extremely interesting. That's why we want to
celebrate these programs."

The Banff World Television
Festival takes place June 7 to 10 at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff,
Canada.

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski