Pogo ropes in Mini Mathur to host Pogo Amazing Kids Awards

Media News

NEW DELHI, October 19

Pogo is on a hunt for India's most talented children for the third edition of Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006. And to keep viewers company on this expedition is television anchor and VJ Mini Mathur. Miditech has produced the 19 episodes in a serialised format. Indian child prodigies across categories contend for this highly coveted award.

Enthused about her venture in the kids' genre for the first time, Mathur says, “Though I have anchored a lot of shows on television, this one demands dealing with young hearts and their emotions. Pogo is doing an incredible job by inculcating confidence in these kids and providing them a platform to showcase their talent to the country.”

Monica Tata, V-P, adv-sales and networks, India and South Asia, Turner International India, says, “Mathur is a popular television anchor and we are confident that she will do complete justice to the new, serialised format. A mom herself, Mathur would share a comfort level with kids as they face the camera.”

The research team and jury is in the process of short listing five nominees from each of the eight categories - arts, sports, music, singing, dance, genius, leadership and entertainment. These 40 kids will be profiled as part of the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006 series starting November 4.

The first eight episodes will feature non-category specific profiling of the 40 nominees, followed by a complete recap in the ninth episode. The next eight episodes will have three finalists in each category vying for the top prize by impressing the jury, viewers and thereby getting their votes. At this stage, the jury panel will be there to guide the finalists, spur them on and give them words of advice, while Viewers' votes will play a crucial role in selecting the final eight winners. These will be followed by a grand finale that will reveal the final eight winners.

The winners will be felicitated at a gala, in-studio event in Mumbai that will be interspersed with exciting performances. The winners will be awarded with a child benefit policy worth Rs Five lakhs and to further highlight their talent, the winning kids will get the chance to be on Pogo throughout 2007.

The awards are divided into two sections, Pogo Voice Awards and Pogo Kids Awards. The latter will recognise exceptional talent and brilliance and reward them for their extraordinary talents in multiple areas and the voice section would empower children from all over India to vote for their favourite celebrity icons amongst nominees in various award categories.

Instituted by Pogo in December 2004, the awards recognise child wonders and reward them for their outstanding achievements in multiple areas of excellence such as arts, leadership and sports.

For further information, contact:

Pooja Ahluwalia,

Turner International India Pvt Ltd

Ph: 011-41699123

E-mail: pooja.ahluwalia@turner.com