MUMBAI: Colors, the Hindi general entertainment channel from the Viacom18 stable, has got the telecast rights of Screen Awards.

The 18th Edition of the Screen Awards, a property of The Express Group, will be aired on Colors in January 2012. One of the highest rated awards property, Screen Awards has been associated with Star Plus for the past 11 years.

Initiated in the year 1994, the Screen Awards were instilled to recognise upcoming talent and professional excellence in Indian Cinema.

Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, "The Screen Awards is one of the most popular and recognized award functions in the Indian film industry?s calendar and we are extremely proud to be associated with it."

The Screen Awards celebrate achievement and excellence in over 30 categories that cover the entire sweep of film-making in Hindi and Marathi.

"The Screen awards set the bar for excellence in Indian cinema because it embodies the fundamental principles of the Express Group: credibility and independence," said The Express Group Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta. "Cinema is bristling with talent; these awards applaud and celebrate this creative upsurge."

The awards follow a two-step screening process that includes a Screen Selection Academy. Its members send their recommendations to a select Screen Jury which is not bound by these.

Previous jury chairpersons include Ramesh Sippy, Amol Palekar, Jeetendra, Asha Parekh, Shatrughan Sinha, Waheeda Rehman among others.