MUMBAI: The National Geographic Explorer which is cable’s longest-running documentary series- now airing on the National Geographic Channel on Sundays at 8 pm, was the recipient of eight medals at the New York Festivals International Television Programming and Promotion Awards. The competition, now in its 48th year, honors 'the world’s best work' in news, documentary, information and entertainment programming as well as in music videos, infomercials, promotion spots, openings and IDs. The winners were announced during a ceremony Friday evening at the Hudson Theatre in New York.

National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F) EVP and executive producer for Explorer David Royle said, “It’s a great honor to be recognized for the quality of so many of our programs in this international competition. Our production teams have braved bullets in Liberia, dived in the Arctic with polar bears, flown on helicopter drug raids in Colombia and climbed into the Himalayas to tell the remarkable story of two doctors restoring eyesight to the blind. It’s exciting television that we’re now delighted to bring to our viewers on the National Geographic Channel.”

Liberia: American Dream? recognized by the New York Festivals with a gold world medal in national/international affairs, also won the Edward R. Murrow Award for best television documentary on international affairs by the Overseas Press Club in 2004 and a duPont-Columbia University Award for excellence in television journalism earlier this month. The documentary is an unflinching and compelling account of Liberia’s 13-year civil war and the country’s close ties to the United States. The National Geographic crew documented the ravages of war, including wrenching stories of how women were victimized, young boys coerced into taking up arms and how more than 150 people gathered the immense courage required to be interviewed for this report.

The complete list of New York Festivals awards for Explorer are as follows:

“Liberia: American Dream?”
National/International Affairs — Gold World Medal

“China's Lost Girls”
Social Issues/Currrent Events — Gold World Medal

“Terrors of Tasmania”
Best Soundtrack/Audiomix — Gold World Medal

“Forensic Case: The Hunley”
Best Editing — Gold World Medal

History & Sociaty — Bronze World Medal

“Miracle Doctors”
Cultural Issues — Silver World Medal

“Killer Cats of the Kalahari”
Best Soundtrack/Audiomix — Silver World Medal

“The War Next Door”
National/International Affairs — Bronze World Medal

“Battle of the Arctic Giants”
Nature & Wildlife — Finalist Certificate