MUMBAI: The critically acclaimed The Guardian has added another feather to its cap.

The series, which airs Sundays in India on the Hallmark Channel, was honoured last week as best new series at the Family Television Awards in the US. Simon Baker who plays a corporate lawyer's efforts at protecting children was also honoured as best actor.

Produced by Columbia TriStar Television in association with CBS Productions, The Guardian was created and written by David Hollander, previously a playwright and screenwriter. Hollander, who was inspired by his brother's experience working in child welfare, also serves as an executive producer along with Mark Johnson and Michael Pressman.

Also recognised was the CBS TV movie The Rosa Parks Story which will premiere on Hallmark. The awards, in their fourth year, were initiated by the Family Friendly Programming Forum. The group was formed by more than 40 advertisers in the USA to encourage the production of programmes aimed at parents and children.

Tom Bergeron, the Emmy Award winning host of Hollywood Squares and America's Funniest Home Videos, hosted the event.

A highlight of the ceremony was the sister trio SHeDAISY singing Mine All Mine from their recently released third album, Knock on the Sky. Dick Clark productions produced the Family Television Awards show for the fourth consecutive year. The ceremony is scheduled to air 9 August on ABC networks in the USA.