‘Oh My English’ nominated for Digital Emmys

A scene from Oh My English

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian educational TV series Oh My English is the only South-East Asian entry to be nominated for this year’s International Digital Emmy Awards.

Nominated in the Children & Young People category, the popular Astro series is up against entries from the United Kingdom, Germany and Brazil.

Astro’s GenNext Business vice president Putri Yasmin Megat Zaharuddin (pic) said she did not expect the nomination.

“This is our first submission of Oh My English for the Digital Emmys. This proves that although we are a small country, in terms of innovation, we are up there,” she said.

The Digital Emmys are awarded by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, recognising excellence in the enhancement of content through digital platforms. The other nominees are from Japan, Canada and the Netherlands.

“Oh My English may have stood out because it creates conversation around content.

“We have a comprehensive 360-degree digital approach which works simultaneously with the television broadcast.

“For instance, viewers can answer questions posed by the show’s characters through their mobile devices in a segment called Brainbox,” she said.

The show has amassed a total of 15 million views on YouTube, 661,000 Facebook fans, 100,000 Twitter followers and 31,000 Instagram followers to date.

Oh My English – an edutainment programme about learning English starring Zain Saidin, Adibah Noor and Tiz Zaqyah, among others – debuted in 2012 and has just finished its third season besides spawning three telemovies.

Besides the nomination, the show’s digital initiative won the MDA d Awards in the Mobile category and was the bronze winner for Excellence In Social Media Marketing at the Marketing Excellence Award 2014.

“I would like to thank the Oh My English team, our digital partners Isobar Malaysia & Sashimi Social Sdn Bhd and our production partners Red Communications.

“Their combined efforts and creativity have brought the interactive, multi-platform Oh My English experience to life and inspired millions to improve their English,” she said.

Winners of the Digital Emmys will be announced on April 13 in Cannes, France.