MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) was named best partner and also won the Top 10 highest rated movies awards for The 6th Day and Charlie's Angels, at an award ceremony hosted by the Shanghai East Movie Channel at the Shanghai Television Festival

400 participants from international and Chinese TV and entertainment companies attended the Shanghai Television festival which took place last month.

The best partner title was the first ever such award presented by Shanghai East Movie Channel in recognition of excellence in partnership and services of content providers globally and in China. The top 10 highest-rated movies awards were given to the most watched movies from amongst hundreds of international and Chinese movie titles in 2004-05.

Shanghai East Movie Channel vice director Xiao Hong said, "The best partner is awarded to SPTI because of its consistent support to Shanghai East Movie Channel beyond simply providing the best content. Its excellence in after sales service and marketing support are integral parts of what best partnership is all about."

SPTI Asia senior VP and MD Todd Miller said, "We are extremely excited in receiving the awards. They reflect SPTI's strong commitment to our partnerships with TV channels and help strengthen our position as the prime content provider in the region and globally."

Recently SPTI had signed a deal with China Central Television's (CCTV) programming licensing division, China International Television Corporation (CITVC). This marked the first ever licensing deal with a major US studio and the aim was to acquire the multi-year rights to distribute epic drama series The Stories of Han Dynasty in Asia. The CITVC deal marks another milestone for SPTI on the heels of the company's recently announced distribution agreement with CJ Entertainment to distribute two Korean films throughout Asia. They are The Greatest Expectation and How to Keep My Love.