CATEGORIES

The winner of this award will be a programme or series targeted specifically at a children's audience [6-16 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.

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

Judges will be looking for a genuinely funny winner, where the primary focus of the show is to entertain the viewer and make them laugh. Entries for Best Comedy Programme may not also be submitted in Best Comedy Drama.

Judges will be looking for outstanding writing and high-class performances, and innovative ideas and/or a fresh approach to the genre will be rewarded. Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be considered.  

Panel shows should NOT be submitted and are instead eligible for Best Entertainment Programme. 

This award will go to the comedy drama that the judges consider to be the best work of fiction broadcast in the UK, during the qualifying period. 

These shows will have a more pronounced narrative arc than those in the Comedy category and aspire to a broader tonal or emotional range. Judges will be looking for a winner that demonstrates an impressive balance, offering viewers a combination of humour and more dramatic elements.  

Strong characters, outstanding writing and high-class performances will be rewarded, as will innovative ideas. Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration. 

This award will go to a programme that offered outstanding analysis of or investigation of topical current affairs during the qualifying period.

Judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding journalism and news gathering, fresh insights or perspective, and exclusive coverage. 

Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration.

Traditional news bulletins or real-time reporting analysis should enter Best News Programme.  

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. 

This award is cross-genre and open to all programmes broadcast first run strictly between 6am and, start their TX no later than 6.30pm on all UK channels, including the weekend, excluding news programming. 

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.  

Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration. 

Please note: Entries into this category cannot enter Best Specialist Factual Programme category. Natural history programmes are ineligible for this category and should be entered into Best Specialist Factual Programme. 

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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.  

Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration. 

Please note: Entries into this category cannot enter Best Specialist Factual Programme or Best Popular Factual Programme categories. 

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This category will reward the outstanding entertainment programme or series, 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. Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration.  

Studio-based shows should be entered into this category and judges will be looking for outstanding performances from talent, innovative formats, and a genuine sense of entertainment.  

Talent shows, comedy panel shows, quiz and gameshows, chatshows, variety, music performance and other traditional entertainment sub-genres should be entered here.  

This category will reward the factual entertainment programme or series deemed to be the outstanding original production in the genre, broadcast in the UK for the first time during the qualifying period. 

The shows will be formatted factual programmes, largely set in the real world and with less artifice than the heavily constructed settings of reality. 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.  

Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration.  

Travelogues, talent-led-access docs, lighter ob-docs, features and funny factual programming should be entered here. Judges will be looking for shows that offer a strong sense of entertainment and/ or aspire to say something about their contributors or the world. 

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. Shows ordered by global streaming services may not be entered. 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.   

Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration.  

This award will go to the new drama that the judges consider to be the best work of fiction broadcast in the UK, during the qualifying period. 

Entries can be single films or an episode chosen from multi-part series of any type, but they must be making their debut. Anthology series, with different stories in each ep, should be entered here for their first run only.  

Judges will be looking for a show that has made a significant impact on its first run, with strong storytelling, outstanding writing and high-class performances. 

Innovative ideas and/or a fresh approach to the genre will be rewarded and ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be considered.  

This award will go to an individual breaking news programme or investigation, coverage of a specific news event. That includes daily news bulletins, weekly news shows and live breaking news reports during the qualifying period.

Judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding journalism and news gathering, fresh insights or perspective, and exclusive coverage. 

Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration.  

Current affairs films should not be entered and instead submitted for Best Current Affairs Programme.

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. If the entry is based on an existing format that was created outside of the UK, please indicate this in the entry.  
 
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 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.

The judges will be looking for the very best in class post work.

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

This award goes to the best programme or series that targets UK pre-schoolers specifically (0-5 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. 

This category will reward the reality programme or series deemed to be the outstanding original production in the genre, broadcast in the UK for the first time during the qualifying period. 

The environment, action or scenarios played out in these shows will be constructed. They may take place in the real world, but events are devised by the production team.  

These shows will largely be cast from the public, though there may be talent hosting/fronting the format. Dating shows and competition formats often sit in this category.  

A brilliant format, outstanding casting and the ability to generate talked-about moments will all impress the judges.  

Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration. 

This award will go to the returning drama that the judges consider to be the best work of fiction broadcast in the UK, during the qualifying period. 

Entries can be single films or a chosen episode from multi-part series of any type, but they must be from the second run of the show onwards. Anthology series, with different stories in each ep, should be entered here for their first run only.  

Judges will be looking for a show that is still at the top of its game or has improved over time, featuring strong storytelling, outstanding writing and high-class performances. 

Innovative ideas and/or a fresh approach to the genre will be rewarded and ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be considered.  

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. 

Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration. 

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. 

Ratings performance and critical acclaim will also be a consideration. 

This category is open to all sports related programming with coverage of the sport at its heart. This includes live and highlights coverage, and sports-themed programming such as magazines and discussion shows where there is significant amount of sporting action included.  

Documentaries are ineligible and should be entered into the appropriate documentary category.  

This category will reward the broadcaster or streamer that has enjoyed an outstanding creative performance during the qualifying period.  

The judges will be looking for clear highlights that are among the very best programmes of the year, as well as evidence of growth and how well the organisation has served its audience.  

Public and critical acclaim and ratings performance will also play their part.  

This category is focussed on content commissioned out of the UK and produced by UK production companies. Acquisitions and non-UK shows can be used to support any entry, but the key criteria is UK-originated commissioning and production success. 

Successful Acquisitions and non-UK originated content can support entries - but the primary consideration for the judges will be content commissioned out of the UK from British production companies.

The award will reward and recognise output across all platforms rather than the programming that sits solely on a specific linear channel and is open to all on-demand platforms/broadcasters.  

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. 

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Now an enterable category - this category celebrates TVs biggest, most memorable ‘moment’ of the year.

It will be a special moment that either brought the nation together or resonated with a wide audience, which was extensively discussed and remembered.   

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In 2025, Broadcast introduced the Hall of Fame as part of the Broadcast Awards 30th anniversary celebrations. 

The winner will be awarded by the Broadcast Awards team, there will be no shortlist announced for this award. 

This category is not open for entries

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