Geo News bags 'News Channel of the Year' award at AVTA 2018

LONDON: Geo News on Monday was declared the winner in the category of ‘Urdu News Channel of the Year 2018’ at the 5th Asian Viewers Television Awards (AVTA).

Two other private Pakistani TV networks were also in the running for the award but Geo News emerged the victor owing to the overwhelming support it received from the voters. AVTA is a one of its kind event that celebrates talent from the British Asian television industry on an annual basis, with well-known media veteran Rajan Singh at the helm.

The awards are voted by the audiences who choose the top channels, shows, and celebrities in their respective categories. This year's ceremony took place in Hilton Hotel London and was attended by around 300 people, mainly from the mainstream and Asian media industry. 

Some of the top names from the South Asian media industry in the international markets present included: Neeraj Arora (Executive Vice President, Sony TV); Shawl and Faheem Farooqi (Managing Directors of Alliance Advertising & Marketing); Javed Hussain (CEO, Media Reach, Guneet Anand (Head of International, Star TV); Andy Howard (Arqiva Ltd), Steve Connors (Founder, DigiteX); Raman Raikhy, (Head of Sales UK- Colors, IndiaCast); Sumant Bhal (International Head, and PTC & CEO Space Merchants); Manish Tiwari (Founder, Here&Now Media), among many other stars and celebrities from South Asian media industry.

Baseem Baig Chagtai, the business unit head of Geo TV Network's International Division accepted the award — people’s choice of the Top Urdu News channel — for Geo News from Farhan Farani (Partner, Farani & Taylor Solicitors).

In his acceptance speech, Chagtai thanked Geo News' followers in the Pakistani and Asian communities for their loyal support over the years.

“The credit goes to the entire team of Geo News for their dedication and unparalleled coverage of news and current affairs in the Pakistani media that wins them such valued awards," he said.

"Geo News Network is committed to bringing genuine public interest journalism to its viewers and will continue to excel in the profession,” he added.

Singh, the media veteran who presides the AVTA, commented that Geo News is a popular news network, saying: “For us, it’s all about the viewers voting for their favourite channel.

"The viewers voted for Geo News as the best news channel and Geo News must be doing something really good to win that confidence.”

Singh added that he organises the Asian media industry awards every year to highlight the quality of all Asian news channels.

“It’s about how good we as a TV industry are doing in the UK. It’s about getting new media professionals exposed to the world to tell them that you are working in a great industry. I feel that we could do a lot more to cover more local content. We are now 4th-generation British Asians and while keeping in connection with our culture is important but Asian news channels should cover more local and international stories.”

Other award categories comprised Reality Programme of the Year; Music Channel of the Year; Punjabi Channel of the Year; Bengali Channel of the Year; Lifetime Achievement Award; Soap of the Year; Male Actor of the Year; General Entertainment Channel of the Year.

A Pakistani channel won in the entertainment category. Javed Hussain from Media Reach was handed the Lifetime Achievement Award for his over three decades of incredible work in the media industry.