CATEGORIES

Sponsored by dock10

The winner of this award will be a programme or series targeted specifically at a children's audience [5-16 years] that is judged to represent the outstanding production effort by a British company in this area.

This category covers all genres including drama, factual, entertainment, education and comedy and measures of success include originality, distinctiveness, strength of execution and ratings and/or international sales and merchandising performance. 

Sponsored by Pinewood Television

This category will reward the best comedy one-off special or series of whatever duration that is deemed to be the outstanding original production in the genre. This category covers a wide range of comedy including sitcoms, stand-up, comedy dramas and sketch shows.

Panel shows should NOT be submitted and are instead eligible for best entertainment show. 

This award will go to a programme or investigation offering fresh and considered analysis of current affairs events. This could be a specific episode of a strand or a topical, news-led documentary broadcast during the qualifying period.

Judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding journalism, exclusive content or access, and fresh insights or perspectives. Breaking news coverage should not be entered.

The award will go to the best original commission in daytime on any channel. Repeats and acquisitions are excluded. The judges will be looking for the daytime programme that really stood out in the schedule for its originality, ambition and quality. Factors taken into account will include ratings, audience and critical reaction and format or programme sales.

This award is cross-genre and open to all programmes broadcast first run between 6am-6pm on all UK channels, including the weekend excluding news programming. 

Sponsored by Northern Ireland Screen

The judges will be looking for the outstanding single documentary broadcast in the UK for the first time during the qualifying period. Entries can be part of a strand but will be judged as a single programme. Anything over one episode/part should be entered into Best Documentary Series. Judges will be looking for an outstanding, talked-about piece of work that has made its mark in the schedule. It should reveal new insights, uncover new evidence or stir emotions and/or impress in terms of access, subject matter, filming style or structure.

(Please note entries into this category cannot enter Best Specialist Factual Programme category and natural history programmes are ineligible for this category and should be entered into Best Specialist Factual Programme). 

This award will go to the outstanding documentary series broadcast on any TV channel in the UK for the first time within the qualifying period. It should reveal new insights, uncover new evidence or stir emotions and/or impress in terms of access, subject matter, filming style or structure. Judges will be looking for new and engaging ways of bringing subjects to life and will assess the strength of storytelling and how the series has succeeded with viewers.

(Please note entries into this category cannot enter Best Specialist Factual Programme category).   

Sponsored by Maidstone Studios

This award will go to the best drama serial or series, including ongoing series of. at least three parts, which the judges consider to be the best work of fiction broadcast in the UK, during the qualifying period. Judges will be looking for strong storytelling, outstanding writing and high-class performances.

Innovative ideas and/or a fresh approach to well-worn subjects will be rewarded and ratings, performance and critical acclaim will also be considered. 

Sponsored by BBC Studioworks

This category will reward the entertainment programme or series (including comedy panel shows), deemed to be the outstanding original production in the genre, broadcast in the UK for the first time during the qualifying period.

It could be an established format that remains at the top of its game or has been given a fresh twist, or a new show that has made its mark.

Sponsored by Barclays

Judges will be looking for an independent production company which in the last year has produced outstanding programming This category is based on both creative and commercial success in the period and the judges will also be looking for evidence of business growth.

Please consider creative highlights, critical and viewing figure success, breadth of programming, progress made in terms of diversity, any significant environmental, social or governance activity, and the commercial case or development of business over the year.

The judges will be looking for an outstanding original production commissioned by a UK channel other than BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 or Channel 5. Acquisitions and repeats are excluded. 

The judges will be looking for brave, original programming in any genre that stands out in a cluttered landscape. The job that a show does for its host broadcaster, will be a key factor.   

The award will go to the best UK music programme or series with musical performance or event coverage at its heart, it cannot be a pure documentary, entertainment, or factual entertainment show, but magazines or discussion shows may be entered.

Technical innovations, brand identity, originality and connection with the audience will all be taken into consideration.  

This award will go to a news bulletin or an investigation or coverage of a specific news event. That includes daily programmes and live breaking news reports during the qualifying period.

Judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding journalism and news gathering, timely reporting, any exclusive coverage, and the overall editorial approach. Current affairs films should not be entered.

Sponsored by IMG

This award will go to a genuinely original programme in any genre, that comes from a fresh idea and/or demonstrates innovation in production. Significant reworking of established formats or shows that reinvent or reinvigorate genres will be considered, in addition to new launches.

Evidence of bravery, ambition and being first or shaking up the market will be considered, alongside ratings success and critical acclaim. 

This award will go to the special or ongoing series of any duration, which the judges consider to be the outstanding popular factual programme broadcast in the UK for the first time during the qualifying period.

Judges will be looking for original or unusual concepts or characters, stand out format points and strong stories that take the viewer on an entertaining journey. 

Sponsored by LucidLink

This award will go to the post-production house that has provided outstanding service and creativity and has shown the ability to deliver quality results under tight deadlines and provide creative solutions for programme makers.

Evidence of a strong business or commercial case would be advantageous.  

Sponsored by Fitzrovia Post

This award goes to the best programme or series that targets UK pre-schoolers specifically (0-4 years).

Judges will be looking for well-crafted programmes that entertain and teach very young children something about the world around them. Other measures of success include ratings, international sales and merchandising deals. 

Sponsored by Gorilla Post Production

This award will go to the best single drama, including two partners, broadcast in the UK for the first time during the qualifying period.

Judges will be looking for an outstanding creative work that has captured the attention of viewers. Writing, directing and performance will be key areas under consideration. 

This award will recognise the soap opera or continuing drama that has had an outstanding year - reaching a mass audience and hitting new creative heights.

The judges will look for innovative storylines, character development and interesting production techniques, including special episodes. They will also look for how the show serves its broadcaster and connects with its fanbase. 

This award will go to the outstanding specialist factual programme (either a single film or a series) broadcast in the UK for the first time during the qualifying period.  

Judges will be looking for original ideas and inspired storytelling, technical excellence, and shows that bring complex subjects to life. They can be constructed formats or documentaries and appropriate genres include arts, religion, history, natural history, and science, including sociology and anthropology. (Shows entered in this category cannot enter Best Documentary Programme or Best Documentary Series). 

The category excludes entire strands but includes individual programmes from those strands. 

Sponsored by NEP

This category covers all sports related programming [except documentaries], from live and highlights coverage of sporting events to sports-themed programming such as magazines and discussion shows.

The award will go to the one-off, special event or series judged to be the outstanding work broadcast in the UK during the qualifying period and will be judged on presenting and commentary excellence, production techniques and innovation and any multi-platform support. 

This award will go to the outstanding UK channel [terrestrial or multichannel] that is dedicated to serving British audiences.

Judges will be looking for outstanding British originations and impressive ratings or commercial performance, innovation and/or ambition around scheduling, and a strong, coherent channel identity. Please ensure your submission strictly adheres to the judging period. 

This award will go to an emerging production company that has quickly established a reputation for quality or distinctive programming. Judges will assess production companies on both creative and commercial terms. 

In order to qualify the production company must have a turnover of less than £10m and to have been established for less than five years at the start of the eligibility period. Both criteria must be satisfied.  

Companies launched by experienced execs, or as part of super-indie groups are eligible to enter, but particular credit will be given to businesses created by emerging talent that are shaping a strong, new narrative. 

The judges will be looking for the UK-made programme that has made a significant impact internationally in format or finished programme sales in the qualifying period.

Factors taken into account will include the number and profile of territories/broadcasters sold to, revenue generated, how it has performed or was received in those territories, broke new ground and any other measurable indicators of success.

Smaller shows that have performed well above expectation will also be considered. This category is open to new and existing formats. 

Sponsored by EMG

This will be awarded by the Broadcast Awards team to an individual or organisation that has made a major contribution to the industry. There will be no shortlist announced for this award.

This category is not open for entries

Sponsored by Timeline Television

Awarded to the best British TV moment of the past year. The shortlist will be selected by Broadcast readers and the winner will be chosen by attendees of the awards on the night.

This category is not open for entries