The search for "Asia's Got Talent" will continue in Season 2 this year after its successful first season in 2015. Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia has struck a deal with FremantleMedia International for the talent show's rights.
FremantleMedia International and Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment co-produced the "Got Talent" franchise. It is in the Guinness World Records as the Most Successful Reality Television Format with 70 local versions produced across the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. The talent show format airs in 186 countries around the world.
"Asia's Got Talent" Season 2 has no local production firm or judges yet but is expected to commence talent auditions throughout Asia. Its premiere is slated for the second half of the year and is expected to broadcast on Sony's AXN network across much of the Asia-Pacific region. It geographically includes the key territories of Japan, Korea, China and India.
The deal follows closely after the December 2016 season finale of "The Amazing Race Asia," which topped the ratings among English-language pay-TV channels in Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. Sony expects "Asia's Got Talent" to pick up from the reality television game show and will produce pieces of content to supplement the linear broadcasts to engage audiences, Variety reported.
The talent show's Season 1 set new records in ratings for the English genre during its run. It brought AXN to the number one spot in its timeslot among all regional pay-TV channels across Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It was the highest rated entertainment series on English language in Malaysia and its Grand Final Results episode was the highest rated pay-TV program in the Philippines since 2008.
"'Asia's Got Talent' Season 1 has become the benchmark for talent shows in the pan-regional space," FremantleMedia International, Asia general manager/executive vice president Ganesh Rajaram said in a statement posted in the company's website. "We are thrilled to have secured this multi-year partnership with Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia and are confident that the new seasons will be tremendously successful."
AXN has been producing original content in Asia with notable success in ratings. Its hit shows include "The Amazing Race Asia," "Cash Cab Asia," "Cash Cab Philippines," "The Apprentice Asia," "Cyril: Rio Magic," "Cyril's Famil Vacation: Hawaii Edition" and "Cyril: Simply Magic."
Watch Cowell below encouraging talents to audition for the show: