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Nikon has joined the team at StarHub in its upcoming Sunsilk Academy Fantasia, a popular reality TV Singing competition that will finally be taking place in Singapore for the very first time! July 2, 2012 Nikon is proud to partner with StarHub in its latest project, the inaugural Sunsilk Academy Fantasia, a 10-week multi-platform singing competition that sets out to groom a winner to stardom, and aims to bring reality TV to a whole new level where viewers get to see the makings of a star from start to finish. Originated from Mexico, Academy Fantasia is a reality singing programme which became the number one reality show when it was first launched in 2002. StarHub is now importing Academy Fantasia into Singapore and the show hits viewing screens on 8 July 2012. This is StarHub’s first major foray into content production, alongside local renowned production house, Refinery Media. For this, a purpose-built academy in an undisclosed location in Singapore, with multiple hidden surveillance cameras will become home to 14 finalists for the next 10 weeks. The finalists will be putting their work and studies on hold, to lead a different life under the limelight, under constant public scrutiny, with limited access to phones and internet, cut off from the outside world. Their lives and daily events will be broadcasted 18 hours a day across multiple platforms on TV, internet and mobile, and is set to titillate and engage viewers with its non-stop live coverage of the finalists’ experiences and growth as the weeks progress. Just last Wednesday, the 14 finalists were revealed. They were picked from more than 500 contestants, after going through two full days of open auditions and a closed-door audition. They come from all walks of life, ranging from university students to a former FHM model; a British man who is a Vice President in an established foreign bank, and a Malaysian who is a dead-ringer for local singer JJ Lin.
Each week, the finalists will undergo intensive training from reputable experts in singing and dancing, professional grooming and make their debut performances as finalists at the weekly concerts which begin on 14 July 2012 and will take place every Saturday at Dragonfly Bar, St James Power Station. The finalists will sing and have their performance critiqued by a panel of esteemed judges, and thereafter viewers can vote for their favourite contestant via SMS. At the end of 10 weeks, the final winner will be walking away with a two-year singing contract and a recording album with Ocean Butterflies Music. Mr Tan Tong Hai, Chief Operating Officer of StarHub expressed, “This is an extremely exciting moment for Sunsilk Academy Fantasia as we have discovered some real talent in our 14 finalists. They are like diamonds in the raw. With proper training and guidance, I am sure they will all blossom and shine during the course of the competition.” Sharing and documenting the 10-week experience through Photography To help the finalists make memories of their 10-week competition experience as well as the challenge of staying together, Nikon Singapore will be providing each of the 14 finalists a Nikon COOLPIX compact digital camera as a trusty companion to journey with them through the weeks ahead. Viewers watching StarHub’s daily live coverage or online news may be able to observe up to 7 different Nikon COOLPIX models being carried by each finalist, with one male and one female finalist each paired to a different camera model each, chosen according to their personality styles and photography technicality preference. With the portable COOLPIX cameras on hand, the finalists will have the chance to explore the potential of each different camera. The models are featured mainly from Nikon’s latest Spring 2012 series, consisting of the “performance” or P-series cameras, the COOLPIX P310 – a bright f/1.8 lens camera with advanced PASM controls. For those who like more point-and-shoot cameras, they were given the “style” S-series Nikon COOLPIXes, which are the COOLPIX S9300, S6300, S4300, S3300 and S2600, featuring style, colour and lightness of weight for better portability. Finally, the most sporty and outdoor-loving pair will be using the COOLPIX AW100, Nikon’s all-weather waterproof and shockproof camera.
With these compact cameras in hand, Nikon hopes that the convenience of carrying these compacts around would allow each contestant to capture as many special moments of the friendships that they will be building up during the next 2 months of living together. Through the images taken, finalists will also be able to build up great memories, share their daily experiences with their families and friends outside, as well as express their visual creativity and thoughts through photography. Nikon Singapore certainly looks forward to the performances of these 14 finalists, who boasts hidden talent and potential. We wish all finalists a great time during the next 10 weeks ahead! 360º Multi-platform AF Experience Sunsilk Academy Fantasia premiers on 8 July 2012 on the Academy Fantasia Channel (StarHub TV Channel 110). Viewers can also catch it out of their homes via the convenience of their mobile devices, as a simulcast of the Academy Fantasia Channel will be made available online on StarHubtv.com and StarHub TV on Mobile. E City (StarHub TV Channel 111/ 825) will screen daily recaps and weekly recaps, highlighting the best and funniest moments. The weekly concerts will also be aired on E City, Academy Fantasia Channel, StarHub TV on Mobile and online. For more information on StarHub TV, visit www.starhub.com/tv.
MORE INFORMATION About ACADEMY FANTASIA Originated from Mexico, Academy Fantasia is a reality singing programme which became the number one reality show when it was first launched in 2002. More than 10 million votes were generated in the first season alone. Contestants shot to fame after joining Academy Fantasia. The success of the popular show spawned other AF competitions in Asian countries. Countries that have launched Academy Fantasia include: Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India and Cambodia, and now Singapore. Now in Singapore, over the next 10 weeks, contestants will pit against one another on their singing abilities and showmanship during weekly concerts held at Dragonfly Bar, St. James Power Station where contestants with the lowest votes will be eliminated. Results will be based on a 70-30 ratio, with 30 percent of votes decided by a panel of judges and 70 percent through SMS voting by the public. The weekly concerts will be hosted by Joe Tsoi, who was born and educated in Singapore but ventured to Taiwan to develop his career in the early 1990s. He is a veteran in hosting youth and entertainment programmes such as are Joe’s Music Report, Asian Music Spin and 100% Entertainment. The Sunsilk Academy Fantasia daily shows will be hosted by Louis Wu, who was one of the finalists in the 2005 Super-Host competition, and Ophelia Su Bei Ru, a popular host discovered in the first season of One Million Star. For more information, refer to StarHub’s first press conference: StarHub Brings Top Reality Singing Contest To Singapore:
StarHub is Singapore's fully-integrated info-communication company, offering a full range of information, communications and entertainment services for both consumer and corporate markets. StarHub operates a HSPA+ mobile network that delivers up to 21Mbps for downlink to complement its nation-wide GSM network, and is currently building its LTE network which is expected go “live” first in key business areas by the end of 2012. It also manages an island-wide HFC network that delivers multi-channel cable TV services (including High Definition Television and on-demand services) as well as ultra-high speed residential broadband services. StarHub operates an extensive fixed business network that provides a wide range of data, voice and wholesale services. Over Singapore’s fibre-based Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network, StarHub offers a broad range of home and business broadband plans along with a host of advanced media-rich value-added services. Launched in 2000, StarHub has become one of Singapore's most innovative info-communications providers, and the pioneer in 'hubbing' - the ability to deliver unique integrated and converged services to all its customers. StarHub, listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange since October 2004, is a component stock of the Straits Times Index and the MSCI Singapore Free Index. Visit www.starhub.com for more information. |
