Finalists in the New York Festival’s International Radio Program Awards for The World’s Best Radio Programs have been announced.
World-wide since 1982, NYF’s International Radio Program Awards honors the most innovative work in radio broadcasting, receiving entries from radio stations, networks, and independent producers from around the globe.
This year, the Grand Jury selected 296 Finalists from entries submitted from 29 countries worldwide.
Entries were judged on production values, organization, presentation of information, creativity, and use of the medium.
All Finalists proceed to the medal round to determine Gold, Silver, and Bronze trophies.
RTÉ Ireland was a dominant force in this year’s competition with 31 entries moving on to the medal round. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation had 19 entries achieve Finalist status, and TBI media was next with 11 Finalists.
To view all the 2016 Radio Awards Finalists please visit: HERE.
15 entries from radio networks in India achieved the ‘finalist’ status – highest among entries from Asia.
HT Media, which runs Fever FM led the way with six finalists, Entertainment Network India Limited, which operates Radio Mirchi had three entries, while DB Corp, KAL Radio Limited, Digital Radio (Kolkata) Broadcasting Limited, South Asia FM limited, Big FM and Radio Mango had one finalist each.
Big Fm’s finalist nomination comes in the newly launched Biography/Profiles category for its retro show ‘Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor’.
Hong Kong had six finalists, all from Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK).
South Korea too had six finalists, with three from Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), two from Busan English Broadcasting Foundation (BeFM) and one from KNN.
Afghanistan had two entries in the Best Radio Personality Category from Afghan Education Production Organisation.
UAE had one finalist in the Best Online Music Program Category from JazzArabia.
The Biography/Profiles category saw a robust number of entries achieve Finalist status including: “Steve, David And Goliath” Australian Broadcasting Corporation; “Peter Sellers: From Southsea To Stardom” BBC, UK; “Ginsberg in India” Freewheel Productions, Canada; “Neil ‘n’ Dud – The Other Side of Dudley Moore” Jazz FM, UK; “Arthur Miller – Speaking Of New York” Just Radio Ltd, UK; “30 Years Man And Boy, A Calmer Chameleon: The Boy George Story” Magnum Opus Broadcasting, UK; “Father Hood: The Holy Man and the Heist” Newstalk/Independent, Ireland; “Lynn Hill: Twenty-First Century War Poet” Prison Radio Productions, UK; “Encountering Marina Abramovic- Artist and Icon” Robyn Ravlich, Australia; “Digitising Rita” RTÉ lyric fm, Ireland; “Mick Meaney – Buried Alive” RTÉ Radio 1 Ireland; and “Good Morning Vietnam” TBI Media, UK.
2016’s new documentary category Climate Change & Sustainability recognized programs that address critical issues of climate change and perspectives on sustainability awareness. Finalistsinclude: “Bright Sparks: An Atmosphere for Change” Athena Media, Ireland; “In the Balance: The Climate Debates” BBC, UK; and “Game-Changing Climate Leadership: What Happens In California Doesn’t Stay in California” Bioneers, USA.
Also new in 2016, Music documentaries scored 8 entries a spot in the medal round: “Somebody Did It Better, presented by Miss Moneypenny” BBC, UK; “Bring It On Home: Led Zeppelin in the West Midlands” Birmingham City University, UK; “The Grammys, turn to game music” Busan English Broadcasting Foundation (BeFM )South Korea; “The Story of the Byrds” Document Media Ltd, UK; “Sounds to Illustrate Dreams: The Lullaby: The Untold Stories of Lullabies” KBS, South Korea; “Arts Technologica: Music” Overtone Productions Ltd., UK; “Vocal Chords: The Odyssey of the Voice with Iarla Ó’Lionáird” Athena Media Ltd., Ireland; and “Sinatra in the UK 1953” Trevro Dann’s Company, UK.
“This year’s entries are truly inspiring, they embody creativity, innovation and brilliant storytelling,” said Rose Anderson, Executive Director of New York Festivals Radio Program Awards. “These exceptional programs engage, entertain, inform, and transport the listener and are a testament to the power of the human voice.”
The winners will be honoured at the Awards Gala on MOnday, June 20, at the Manhattan Penthouse in New York City.