91Èȱ¬

The 91Èȱ¬ Asian Network will celebrate the end of its Melas season with a special highlights programme, A Summer Of Melas, on the 91Èȱ¬ Red Button, from Monday 16 August.

Having attracted an audience of 810,000 for last year's Mela Music Red Button programme, viewers will be able to re-live this summer's season with an hour-long programme, which is available for seven days until Sunday 22 August.

Hosted by a variety of Asian Network presenters, including Breakfast Show host Tommy Sandhu, the programme will showcase the best music, artists, interviews and culture from across the summer.

Performances from the Melas' biggest artists will be interwoven with other station activity, and the programme will also feature performances from the 91Èȱ¬ Introducing Stage – a brand-new stage which featured at the London Mela, showcasing the best in under the radar Asian talent.

Mark Friend, Controller of 91Èȱ¬ Multi-Platform and Interactive, says: "Last year's Mela music programme was a real break-out moment for the Asian Network, watched and listened to by new audiences. I am excited that this year's programme takes in even more great content including, for the first time, performances from the 91Èȱ¬ Introducing Stage."

Mark Strippel, Head of Music and Events, Asian Network, adds: "91Èȱ¬ Asian Network reached out to a record 400,000 people across 11 Melas this summer, bringing them the best in Asian music and entertainment. Our DJs have demonstrated how closely this station connects and reflects our community roots across the UK, from Wilmslow Road through to Southall Broadway and Belgrave Road.

"Across A Summer Of Melas, we've been taking photos of artists and audiences and filming selected performances, interviews and a flavour of Asian culture from each area we've visited. The A Summer Of Melas Red Button TV programme captures some amazing moments of a musical and cultural journey taken with our audience across the summer."

Throughout the season, the 91Èȱ¬ Asian Network website has showcased all the action from each of the Melas. Audiences have been able to enjoy each Mela with a variety of videos, the best music and a multitude of pictures available at bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork.

In addition to this multi-platform offering, clips are also available on the station's Facebook and You Tube pages. Audiences are also encouraged to share their thoughts on the Red Button programme using the dedicated hashtag #melaredbutton.

The Asian Network embarked on its biggest Summer Of Melas season at the beginning of June and visited events across the North West, North East, the Midlands, Wales, Scotland and finished at the London Mela on Sunday 8 August.

The station's presenters, Tommy Sandhu, Sonia Deol, Noreen Khan and Murtz, fronted the station's activity, which also saw the network branching out of the studio to broadcast live from the heart of community.

The station's most comprehensive activity was at the London Mela on Sunday 8 August, where its nine-hour live broadcast was complemented by a live web-stream. The station also hosted and programmed the event's Main Stage and offered a multitude of other activities for visitors to enjoy, including The Mix Tent, Karaoke Tent, Station Wagon and In Conversation tent in collaboration with 91Èȱ¬ London.

For more information on how to watch highlights of A Summer Of Melas on the Red Button, go to bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork.

Notes to Editors

Asian Network provides a distinctive mix of music, alongside a variety of British Asian, Bollywood, Bhangra news, debate, languages, entertainment and live events with a real focus on promoting and highlighting British Asian talent. It plays host to the best in Asian talent including presenters Tommy Sandhu, Sonia Deol, Nihal, Noreen Khan, Gagan Grewal, Bobby Friction, Raj & Pablo.

Asian Network Reports brings listeners the latest daily news and the documentary strand is committed to exploring relevant topics from all areas including arts, news, health and business. The station supports a range of new music and supports emerging artists – especially those from the UK. The station is multi-platform, enabling young audiences to connect through the web and interactive services - offering new ways to listen, watch and find great content from the station.

Asian Network was recognised at this year’s Sony Radio Academy Awards, winning Best Speech Programme for Nihal’s afternoon show and the Bronze Award for the Asian Network Reports: Passport to Murder News Special. 

You can listen to Asian Network on bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/DAB and on Digital TV: Sky 0119/Freeview 709/Freesat 709/Virgin 912.

Red Button has been providing interactive services on digital TV for 10 years and has reached an average audience of 12 million viewers a week over the past 12 months. 

In 2010, the most popular Red Button service has been the Winter Olympics content, which was watched by 9.9m viewers. Other highlights include the World Cup and Wimbledon content, which reached 8.9m viewers and 7.2m viewers respectively.

Regarding this year’s live music content, Glastonbury was the most popular service attracting 4.1m viewers, followed by T in the Park which was watched by 2.4m viewers and Gary Numan & Little Boots, La Roux & Heaven 17 which was watched by 1.3m viewers.

SG