MUMBAI: The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) has launched its ninth annual international awards.

The awards will shine the spotlight on factual broadcasting, whether it is on radio, TV or on transmedia platforms. Entries for the 2013 AIBs are invited from all over the world and can be in any language. The last date for entry submission is 5 July.

The awards are independent of commercial interest and judged by a panel of independent media professionals.

AIB CEO Simon Spanswick said, "Winners have told us how much it means to be presented with an AIB Award. It is recognition of fantastic effort and skill given by their peers in the broadcasting industry. Being selected for the shortlist has also helped programmes to gain commercial success and programme-makers to develop their careers."

Broadcasters have bought featured programmes and producers have spotted rising talent. We?re proud to have helped talented people further their careers over the last eight years," he further added.

As well as live journalism and documentaries that inform debate, the AIB is also searching for the best in science programming, and the best children?s factual programme or series. For the second year there is an award for the best short documentary, feature or report - factual story-telling in less than ten minutes; this will represent this growing genre which is available not just from traditional broadcasters but also from online platforms such as YouTube and increasingly on the websites of newspapers and online news publishers.

Online upload and viewing capability will make the AIBs greener than in previous years. It will save entrants having to ship tapes and the judges, who are based all over the globe, will have easy access to the entries.

The winners will be announced at the AIB awards gala in London on 6 November 2013.

The AIBs also include awards for best TV and radio personality and for innovative production technology.

MUMBAI: Big CBS Prime, an English male-targeted entertainment channel, is eyeing to strengthen it weekend programming with the launch of a special weekend property ?Maha Crime Sunday?.

Starting 21 April, the seven week special will air every Sunday from 8.30 pm-10.30 pm.

The channel, available in dual feeds of English and Hindi, will treat audiences to crime based shows selected from the key programming like 48 Hours: Mystery and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. ?Maha Crime Sunday? has been designed to suit the entertainment penchants of the male audiences in India.

Big CBS Networks business head Anand Chakravarthy said, "This special, is backed with the understanding that audiences seek gripping stories which are well delivered, and wish to move away from story lines and programming which are served to them frivolously and more flippantly. With this offering we handpick episodes, by theme, from two of our key shows CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and 48 Hours: Mystery to highlight social evils. We are confident that this programming innovation will work excellently with both audiences and marketers."

With films and television sharing a symbiotic relationship, ?Maha Crime Sunday? will see its first episode have actor Emraan Hashmi coming on board to reach out to its ?male audience for the promotion of his film Ek Thi Daayan. Ensuring mass appeal, each of the shows will be peppered with Indian content as Bollywood and celebrities takes on the shows to promote their films, where synergies exist.

The property will see the spot-light on a special cause. These will range from cyber crimes to crime against women to domestic violence to sexual abuse and violence.

Big CBS Prime will carry out extensive promotional activities for this fresh new property Maha Sunday Crime to increase its viewership. There will be wide on-air promotions and space in the advertising mediums including TV, Radio and digital.