For Immediate Release

The Contender Asia commences filming in Singapore with twice-weekly fight nights set to be hottest ticket in town 

September 5, 2007, Singapore – Sixteen of the best Muay Thai fighters in the world have commenced their journey to be THE Contender in the inaugural season of The Contender Asia. Filming for the groundbreaking reality series began in Singapore this week at the purpose-built The Contender House with the first fight night held this evening at an adjoining arena, witnessed by an audience of 400 including VIP guests and media.

Riaz Mehta, Chief Executive Officer of Imagine Omnimedia is Executive Producer of the 15-episode reality TV series. Reality TV maestro Mark Burnett and C. Scot Cru of Mark Burnett Productions are Executive Producer and Co-Executive Producer respectively. 

Imagine Omnimedia has forged a historic partnership with Mark Burnett Productions and DreamWorks SKG and this is the first time a reality TV series is filmed in Singapore and produced by a local media company, a venture made possible by Singapore’s Media Development Authority facilitating the financing from Asian banking specialist, DBS Bank.

The fighters who come from 14 different nations represent the cream of the crop in Muay Thai’s middleweight division. The fighters moved into The Contender House during the weekend and in accordance with the format of the show, have been divided into two groups. Each week’s filming will follow the fighters as they live and work with each other, with the pinnacle being the elimination face-off in the ring. Fighters eliminated on a weekly basis until the final fight when only one Contender will be let standing. 

The Contender Asia will be hosted by Australian-Chinese actress Jaymee Ong and Stephan Fox, the International Co-ordinator and Vice-President of the World Muay Thai Council. Several international and regional stars will also be making special appearances in the show throughout the season. The Contender Asia is scheduled to debut on AXN this December.

The Contender Asia is directed by internationally acclaimed Jerry Schafer complemented by local talents and senior producers from Mark Burnett Productions. 

The Contender Asia fight nights will be held every Wednesday and Saturday from today till October 20. Attendance for the first week is by invitation only.

Tickets will be made available to the public via SISTIC with details to be announced. VIP tickets are available with 20% discount for group bookings of 10 or more. For details and advance booking, please contact Alina Quek at +65 9633 4376 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information on The Contender Asia, please go to www.thecontenderasia.com. For more information about Imagine OmniMedia, please go to www.imagine-omnimedia.com. 

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About Imagine OmniMedia

Imagine OmniMedia is a Pan Asia media and mobile ventures company providing production, distribution, management, technology and funding to develop and implement media and mobile opportunities. The company's strategy is to take advantage of the growing market in Asia for TV viewership and mobile interactivity. With this in mind, Imagine OmniMedia works with international best of breed companies, to bring top tier media brands, concepts and formats to Asia.

About Mark Burnett Productions

Mark Burnett Productions (MBP) is a leading production company in content for both primetime television and the internet.  MBP revolutionized television with hits such as Survivor (CBS), The Apprentice (NBC), The Contender (ESPN), Rock Star: INXS (CBS), the new smash hit Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (FOX) and the co-production with Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Television, On the Lot (FOX).  Other MBP projects in 2007 include: Pirate Master (CBS) and the 2007 MTV Movie Awards (MTV) for which Mark Burnett served as Executive Producer.   MBP also partnered with AOL in 2006 on the highly successful interactive adventure Gold Rush, the first-ever unscripted project to be produced exclusively for the internet.  In addition, MBP has established a scripted division and is developing comedies and dramas for television as well as feature films.  MBP also successfully reintroduced product placement as an integral part of each of its shows and has garnered a total of 46 Emmy nominations since 2001.

Media contact

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Fulford Public Relations                                      Fulford Public Relations

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