Maharaja Media Network Secures Four Major Nominations at Asian Television Awards

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Maharaja Media Network is taking Sri Lanka's creative brilliance to one of Asia's grandest stages, securing four major nominations at the prestigious 31st Asian Television Awards, a remarkable achievement that places its productions alongside some of the region's most acclaimed television content.

From groundbreaking journalism and compelling wildlife storytelling to entertainment spectaculars and music programming, the nominations highlight the growing influence of the Capital Maharaja Group and its television brands across the Asia-Pacific media landscape.

Leading the charge is "Save the Sri Lankan Leopard", produced by Newsfirst for Sirasa TV, which has been shortlisted for Best Documentary Series. The Sri Lankan production will go head-to-head with "China's Green Revolution," "Hathras – 16 Days" representing ZEE5,"Lin Zexu: Beyond the Humen Opium Destruction" representing Radio Television Hong Kong and broadcast on RTHK TV31, "Marshmallow Counseling" representing SBS, as well as "Rail Life Story" and"Reborn."

The nomination places Sri Lanka's iconic leopard and the story surrounding its conservation among some of Asia's most celebrated documentary productions, giving local storytelling an opportunity to shine before an international audience.

In the Best Entertainment (One-Off/Annual) category,"Sirasa Ruu Raa", produced by MTV Channel Pvt Ltd and Stein Studios for Sirasa TV, has secured a coveted nomination. It will compete against "2026 Spring Festival Greeting Assembly for All Sectors of Shanghai," "CNN New Year's Eve Live" representing CNN International, "Drama Shines East–2026 TV Drama Quality Ceremony," "Gala Night of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival," "Konser Raya 31 Indosiar Luar Biasa Malam Puncak Kedua" representing PT. Indosiar Visual Mandiri and produced by PT. Indonesia Entertainment Produksi for Indosiar,"Shanghai Mid-Autumn Festival Gala 2025," and"Trendy Chinese Culture & AI - Galloping Over Rivers & Mountains – 2026 AI Spring Festival Gala" representing the Beijing Association of Television Arts and broadcast on Jiangsu Satellite TV.

The nomination recognizes one of Sri Lanka's most beloved entertainment productions in a category stacked with large-scale international television events and gala productions.

The Maharaja Media Network's presence extends into the music arena as "Shakthi Crown", produced by MTV Channel Pvt Ltd and Stein Studios and aired on Shakthi TV, has earned a nomination for Best Music Programme. Its competitors include"Coke Studio Philippines Season 9 - Dionela x Alex Bruce - Fall Season" representing UXS Inc,"Hit 2025," "Listen, Who's Singing?," "Radiw Non Stop," "The Icon Indonesia," "Vibe+" representing TV5, and"Y-Concert by Yeah1" representing YeaH1 Group Corporation, produced by 1Production and broadcast via YouTube @ Yeah1 Show.

The nomination places a Sri Lankan music programme in direct competition with some of the region's most prominent music and entertainment brands, highlighting the strength of locally produced musical content.

Journalism also finds itself in the spotlight through "The Unseen Storm - When Systems Fail", produced by Newsfirst, which has been nominated in the Best Single News Story or Programme (10 Minutes or Less) category. The Newsfirst production will compete against "Born in the USA: The Battle for Birthright Citizenship," "Dragon TV Reporter on the Scene: Shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner," "How AI is Changing Medical Diagnosis Inside China's Hospitals," "India's Toxic Threads" by Hanako Montgomery for CNN All Access,"Iran's 30-Day Defiance: What Sin Did My 6-Year-Old Commit?," "The Battle to Save the Taokas Language," and"Win or Lose, We Are with You!"

The nomination is a significant endorsement of the network's commitment to impactful journalism and public-interest storytelling, demonstrating that stories produced in Sri Lanka can resonate on a regional platform alongside reports from some of the world's most influential news organizations.

Together, the four nominations tell a compelling story of creative range. A documentary protecting one of the nation's most treasured species. An entertainment production captivating audiences. A music programme celebrating performance and culture. A news feature delivering powerful accountability journalism. All carry the signature of the Maharaja Media Network.

The winners will be revealed at the 31st Asian Television Awards, which will be held on 13 and 14 November 2026 at the Hoa Binh Theatre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The awards remain one of the Asia-Pacific region's most respected recognitions of excellence in television and digital media.