ABUGA 2014: Quality and variety highlight 2014 ABU Prizes

Some of the best radio and television programs in the Asia-Pacific in have been acclaimed at a special awards ceremony at the ABU General Assembly in Macau.

The 2014 Prizes for excellence in broadcasting were presented at a glittering awards dinner at the Sheraton Sands Cotai during the Union’s General Assembly being held in the Chinese Special Administrative Region from 22-28 October.

The Union also paid tribute to former Presidents and Secretary General of the ABU recognising their contribution to the growth and development of the Union.  Presidents recognised were Mr Katsuji Ebisawa, (1999-2005) and Dr Kim In-kyu (2011-2012). Mr Hugh Leonard, Secretary-General of ABU from 1985-2002 was also recognised.

Judges praised not only the quality of the award winners, specially commended and finalists but also the variety of entries.

The ABU’s Radio Awards organiser Mrs Vijay Sadhu said: “As the adjudication results rolled out one by one, there were altogether nine organisations from eight countries sharing a total of seven radio winners prizes and five special commendations, representing a dispersed distribution of trophies among ABU members.” 

The TV judging panel chaired by Pedro Manuel Soares de Seixas Lemos, a producer with the host broadcaster TDM, reserved special praise for the winner and finalists of the ABU Perspective category, saying the choice of winner was a judgment “not made by beauty or logic, but for a moral perspective this kind of media organisation can give to the world”.

The award was taken out by New Zealand member Attitude Pictures for their film “Attitude Awards” about – a spectacular black tie event held in New Zealand recognising the winners chosen from 24 outstanding finalists from the disability sector in seven categories ranging from artists to sports men and women, employers and community changemakers.

“Moral is also a form of evaluation on any film,” he said. “Remind the world that is natural to be different and still belong the world. The others participants in this category were also strong in their content and ability to pass unique messages.”  

This year’s ABU Prizes attracted a record of almost 300 entries from the Asia-Pacific and around the world. From 187 television entries and 105 radio entries, panels of independent judges selected shortlists of finalists in six radio and seven TV categories plus a Special Jury Prize in each medium from all the entries received to recognise the work of producers whose entries were creative and innovative despite limited resources.

The theme for the ABU’s 50th Anniversary year was “Celebration”. Full details of winners and other awards are available here.