Beverley McGarvey, the president of Network 10 and head of streaming at Paramount Australia and New Zealand, set the tone for the Asian Academy Creative Awards National Winners Conference in Singapore on December 3. In her opening speech, she praised the diversity and youthful energy of content in the Asia-Pacific region while stressing the importance of strategic deal-making in today’s media landscape.
McGarvey, who also chairs the Asian Academy Creative Awards, shared her insights from judging one of the 40 categories this year, which saw a 30% increase in judges compared to 2024. She highlighted the wide range of genres and markets represented in the nominations, showcasing the richness of content from across the region.
Coming from a background in English-language content, McGarvey noted the prevalence of young people and stories targeting younger audiences in Asia-Pacific programming. She contrasted this with the trend of aging audiences in English-speaking markets, emphasizing the fresh perspectives and themes present in the content she had seen.
The conference set the stage for the Grand Awards Gala on December 4, where 331 national winners from 16 countries vied for the prestigious Golden Goddess trophies. Notable contenders included Jacob Elordi for Prime Video’s “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” and Cate Blanchett for Apple TV’s “Disclaimer.”
McGarvey delved into the evolving economics of content production, underscoring the importance of deal-making alongside creative execution in today’s competitive landscape. She highlighted the complexities of rights management in a multi-platform, technologically advanced era, stressing the need for tailored deals to maximize content potential.
Drawing from Paramount’s recent Australian productions, McGarvey showcased the company’s adaptive approach to windowing and platform strategy. Examples like “NCIS: Sydney” and “Ghosts” demonstrated the flexibility needed to navigate diverse markets and audience preferences effectively.
In addition to content partnerships, McGarvey emphasized the growing role of technology collaborations in content distribution. Network 10’s partnership with LG to stream content on electronic program guides aimed to enhance discoverability for free-to-air content in Australian households.
McGarvey also spotlighted Network 10’s innovative multi-platform strategy for “Big Brother,” incorporating a live TikTok stream alongside traditional broadcasts to engage younger audiences. The reimagined format aimed to draw viewers back to free-to-air TV through digital platforms.
Despite the complexities of modern content distribution, McGarvey reiterated a timeless truth: a great show will always find an audience. As the conference continued with discussions on generative AI, copyright, platform strategy, and deal-making, the stage was set for the Grand Awards Gala at Capitol Theatre on December 4.
The 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards marked the seventh edition of the ceremony, celebrating excellence and innovation in the region’s content industry.
