2004 NTL Commercial Radio Awards open for entries

30th Jan 2004

• Awards enter fifth year
• New Park Lane venue reflects growth in popularity of the awards

NTL Broadcast and the Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA) have announced the categories for the 2004 NTL Commercial Radio Awards.  The awards, which are in their fifth year, seek to recognise excellence in all aspects of commercial radio including presenting, programming, production, and sales & marketing. Expansion of the event for 2004 will see a move to the prestigious Hotel Intercontinental on Park Lane, reflecting the growth and importance of commercial radio in the UK today.

Last year witnessed a record number of entries and it is anticipated that competition in the most popular categories - Station of the Year and Programme or Feature Award - will be fierce once more.  Changes to last year's categories include the new NTL/British Heart Foundation Action on Health Award, which replaces the Social Action Initiative Award.  In addition, Skillset (the Sector Skills Council for Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media, known for its work with the industry and government to determine the sectors' training needs) is sub-sponsoring the Newcomer of the Year Award and will provide a cash grant for training purposes for the winner(s).

Paul Eaton, Head of Radio at NTL Broadcast, said: "We are very proud to be sponsoring this prestigious event once again, which so successfully highlights the achievements of the year. The commercial radio industry is thriving and well-known for its creativity and personalities - and as it continues to grow we are all the more aware how important it is to reward talent and innovation."

Alison Winter, Research and Communications Manager at the CRCA, commented: "Every year our judges are consistently bowled over not only by the sheer number of entries that we receive, but also by the wealth of highly original and creative programming from UK commercial radio stations. This year we have a new and larger venue, new award sponsors, and we are particularly pleased to have the British Heart Foundation on board as a major national charity.  We're expecting a high standard of entries and, like last year, the ceremony itself looks set to be an exciting and nail-biting event!"

The awards will be presented at a luncheon following CRCA's Congress on Friday 25^th June. In total there are 18 award categories, 16 of which are open for entry - details are below:

The NTL Commercial Radio Award for Marketing Excellence

The NTL Local Sales Team of the Year

The NTL National Sales Team of the Year

The NTL Commercial Radio Station of the Year (<300,000 TSA)

The NTL Commercial Radio Station of the Year (300,000 to 1 million TSA)

The NTL Commercial Radio Station of the Year (>1 million TSA)

The NTL Commercial Radio Programmer of the Year

The NTL /Skillset Commercial Radio Presentation Newcomer(s) of the Year

The NTL Commercial Radio Presenter(s) of the Year - in association with x-trax

The NTL Commercial Radio ID Liner, Jingle, Sting or Sweeper of the Year

The NTL Commercial Radio News Award

The NTL Commercial Radio Programme or Feature of the Year

The NTL Commercial Radio Technical Innovation Award

The NTL Commercial Radio Digital Station of the Year

The NTL /British Heart Foundation Action on Health Award

The Neil Robinson Memorial Award

The NTL /IRN Newslink Commercial Radio Special Award

The NTL Gold Award

-Ends-