NEW DELHI: Metan Global Entertainment Group president/CEO Larry Namer is to receive the Outstanding Contribution to Asian Television award at the 19th Asian Television Awards (ATA) on 11 December at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
An entertainment industry veteran with more than 40 years of professional experience in cable television, live events and digital media, Namer is the founding partner of Metan, a venture created to develop and distribute entertainment content and media specifically for the China market.
He is also the co-founder of E! Entertainment Television, a company now valued at over US$3.5 billion, and the creator of several successful companies, including Comspan Communications that pioneered Western forms of entertainment in the former Soviet Union and Steeplechase Media that served as the primary consultant to Microsoft’s MiTV (Interactive Television).
Metan’s flagship series Hello! Hollywood, a weekly entertainment news series tailored to Chinese audiences, is available on the company’s Hollywood Channel on Tudou. Metan has developed the successful sitcom ‘Return to Da Foo Tsun’ and Web series ‘Modern Life’, which have garnered a viewership of over 40 million viewers.
Recently, Metan and a coalition of North America’s top TV and film writers partnered to launch Metan Wen Zhi Ku, a joint venture linking Western writing talent with transmedia projects for China. Namer is also the co-founder of MINGYIAN INC., a China brand management startup for Western celebrities and influencers.
ATA chairman Raymond Wong said, “ATA is pleased to recognise Larry Namer for his remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry. He has accomplished a great deal, while positively representing the entertainment and digital media industries, and he fully deserves to be honoured for his achievements.”
Meanwhile, Yang Weidong senior VP and president of Tudou.com at Youku Tudou Inc., has joined the Advisory Board. The 10-member board has only one Indian, K V L Narayan Rao of NDTV.
Launched in 1996, ATA is the Asian TV industry's most significant and celebrated event, recognising excellence in programming, production and performance.
Determined by an expert panel of over 60 judges from across the region, the results are tabulated and audited by international auditing firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers, with the winners only announced during the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner in December. The judging process has also been brought into the digital era by being conducted on-line. This is designed to lessen the judging workload and provide judges greater comfort and flexibility by enabling them to screen the entries at their own pace.
The Awards comprise over 30 categories and represent the industry's foremost recognition by enjoying the support of every major industry player throughout the region. ATA attracts a multitude of entries from a wide range of broadcasters, including free-to-air television stations and pay-TV platforms, as well as many independent production houses in Asia.
ATA is positioned as the only event of its kind within the Asian region, and upholds a prestigious reputation of showcasing quality television production.
