India shines at Asian TV Awards

Indian news channel NDTV bagged two awards at the Asian Television Awards 2005, including the 'Cable and Satellite Channel of the Year,' honour while Karan Thapar was adjudged the 'Best Current Affairs Presenter' and UTV the 'Best Children's Programme' maker.

The awards, in their tenth year now and presented as part of the Asian TV Forum, were announced on Thursday night and more than 1,400 entries came in from 129 companies of 14 countries.

NDTV was also the winner in the 'Best News Programme' category for its programme 'Waves of Destruction' on last year's devastating Tsunami.

UTV's programme 'Gol Gol Gullam,' a game show involving children, won the top prize, pipping broadcasters from Taiwan and Japan.

Thapar, who has bagged honours at the Asian TV Awards earlier too, won for his programme 'HARDtalk India,' produced by Infotainment TV Pvt Ltd for BBC World (India).

He has previously won awards for Best Current Affairs Anchor (1999), Best Current Affairs Special (2000), Best Current Affairs Programme (2003) and Best Presenter Award (2003).