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Thu, 02 Sep 2010
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 TIME OUT :: Entertainment |
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Contender Asia 2 in Malaysia
Meena L. Ramadas
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(left) Ready for the fight ... (from left) Bernard, Riaz,
Muhammad Shahnaz, Ng holding the winner’s belt,
Fox and Mohd Faizal. | MALAYSIA has won the bid to host and organise the second season of popular reality TV show Contender Asia. The US$1 million (RM3.5 million) bid made by Malaysian Osys Group of companies outbidded those from the US, Macau, Thailand, Singapore and Australia.
“Contender Asia 2 is a unique opportunity for us to not only promote our culture and sport but be part of an international TV series that will give the country global exposure,” said Osys Group managing director Muhammad Shahnaz Azmi.
Contender Asia 2 executive producer Riaz Mehta added: “When Muhammad Shahnaz approached me last September to produce the second season of the show in Malaysia, I was delighted at the prospect. Malaysia offers us stunning landscape and cultural diversity to film an exciting TV series.”
Among the locations chosen are the Mulu Caves in Sarawak, Kellie’s Castle in Perak, Lata Jarum in Pahang, Batu Caves in Selangor, the Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and other attractions in Langkawi, Penang and Malacca.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said: “This TV show will further elevate Malaysia’s profile as a modern, progressive country as it is projected to be watched by 1.2 billion viewers across 60 countries. My ministry is committed to supporting the show including reducing red tape and enlisting more sponsors.”
Muhammad Shahnaz added that they hope the show will also attract renowned filmmakers and producers to set up production here.
Shooting for the 2008 Emmy-nominated TV show will begin next month and continue to August.
This season will again see 16 Muay Thai proponents who represent the cream of the crop in Muay Thai’s middleweight division from 14 different countries coming together to fight it out for the title of Contender Asia.
Representing Malaysia are Bernard Radin, 37, from Sarawak and Mohd Faizal Ramli, 20, from Kelantan. Bernard, who has won several international competitions, is hoping to change lives with this show.
The fighters will be moving into The Contender House from next month. This specially-constructed ‘arena’ is being built in Petaling Jaya by Brian Edmonds whose credits include Anna and the King and X-Men: Wolverine.
The contenders will be divided into two groups. Each week, viewers get to see the contenders as they go through the daily drama of living and working with each other, before stepping into the ring in a tense elimination face-off.
Each week, one contender will be eliminated from the show until the final fight when only one man will be left standing as Contender Asia 2.
The Contender Asia 2 will be hosted by Channel [V] VJ Marion Caunter and World Muay Thai Council vice-president and international coordinator Stephen Fox.
The first episode is scheduled to debut on AXN (Astro Channel 701) in October.
Muhammad Shahnaz said: “I promise you, Contender Asia Season 2 will not only bring Malaysia to the world but the world to Malaysia.”
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Updated: 11:49AM Wed, 24 Jun 2009
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