New York Festivals International Radio Program & Promotions Awards  honored its winners Friday, September 24th at the 2010 Radio Awards ceremony held at the Manhattan Penthouse.   This year’s GrandJury®  awarded 2 prestigious Grand Trophies, one to Ten Alps Radio England, and the other to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada.   In addition, the Canadian Broadcasting Company was honored with the title of Broadcaster of the Year for the 4th time in 5 years.

The gala began with a 6pm cocktail party as award winners took in the dramatic views of the New York skyline, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony.   Gold, Silver, and Bronze Award winners were presented with NYF’s newly minted Art Deco trophy, reminiscent of the classic 1920s Art Deco radio microphone.

London’s Ten Alps Radio was awarded the Grand Trophy for Best Music Special for “The Woodstock 40th Anniversary,” the legendary music festival that defined a generation. 

“It is a great honor to receive the Grand Trophy from such a prestigious festival, especially given the high caliber of entries submitted from radio stations all over the world.  It was a pleasure to record the memories of those contributors to the program who were at Woodstock back in that historic summer of 1969.   John Sebastian did an outstanding job of presenting the documentary… I’d like to thank the judges for their votes and to the New York Festivals for this prestigious award, which acknowledges the passion and excitement of those involved in Woodstock,”  Des Shaw, Director, Ten Alps 

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation received the Grand Trophy for “Twice Lost” for The Current, winning in Health/Medical. The entry chronicles the troubled relationship of two estranged siblings who reconcile after the diagnosis of Huntington’s disease. 

"This is truly fantastic.  Heartiest CONGRATULATIONS to everyone involved in creating such outstanding radio and to the NY Panel who are obviously fine judges of content.  The breadth of programming held up for distinction by these awards is truly remarkable and a wonderful testament to the depth of programming choices that CBC provides to our audiences. We're deeply honored,” Denise Donlon, General Manager, English Radio, CBC.  

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was also honored with the prestigious Broadcaster of the Year Award.  Denise Donlon, General Manager for CBC Radio, accepted the award.  They also took home a staggering 5 Gold Trophies, 5 Silver, 5 Bronze trophies, and 6 Finalist Certificates. CBC was awarded a Gold Trophy for Best Regularly Scheduled Talk Program for “Leonard Cohen in Three Acts”, an exclusive interview with the singer/songwriter. Additional Gold Trophy winners for CBC include:  “Twice Lost” for The Current and CBC Radio, winning in Health/Medical;  “Risky Business” for Sunday Edition, winning in Investigative; “Message in a Bottle” for CBC Ideas, taking the Gold in History;  and “Shoveling the Rain Away” for  CBC Ideas, winning in National/International Affairs.

The award segments were presented by prominent industry executives including: Mark Travis, NYF Radio Programs & Promotions Awards Advisory Board member and Senior Producer, WFMT Radio Network, USA; Anna Maria Tremonti, Host of CBC’s The Current, Canada; Ananta Natha Jha, and Saurabh Bhramar for Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM, India; Delores Flores for AySA, Argentina; and for the United Nations, Lena Dissin, Deputy Director and Officer-in-charge, Outreach Division, Department of Public Information.

Each year the New York Festivals in collaboration with the United Nations appoints a panel to select work that exemplifies the aims and ideals of the United Nations. Their selections are awarded the illustrious United Nations Department of Public Information Award.  2010’s UNDPI Award recipients include: Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s entry “Afghan Hospital - Abdul's story” received the Gold UNDPI Award in the Best Human Interest Story category; and Orion Media Limited was awarded the Silver UNDPI Award for “The Holocaust Remembered” in Best News Documentary/Special category.  And Australian Broadcasting Corporation was honored a second time with the UNDPI Bronze Award for their entry “Delhi Woman” in the Profiles/Community Portraits category.  In addition, Sirius XM Satellite Radio received a UNDPI Finalist Certificate for “The Bandwagon Special: One Voice” in the Best Special Event category.

This year’s international GrandJury®  awarded 33 Gold Trophies, 37 Silver, 40 Bronze and 71 Finalist Certificates.  Now in its twenty-eighth year of honoring “The World’s Best Radio Programs & Promotions™,” the competition honors the most original and innovative work in radio broadcasting, with entries from radio stations, networks, and independent producers from around the world.  For a complete list of this year’s award winners go to: http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/main.php?p=2,7

All entries were judged by the NYF Radio Program & Promotions Awards GrandJury, consisting of radio experts from stations and companies around the globe and promoted by our network of representatives in 74 countries.