MUMBAI: With an aim to honour the world’s best radio programs, the annual New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards took place on 22 June at Manhattan Penthouse in New York City. This year RTÉ Ireland was awarded Broadcaster of the Year and TBI Media UK was awarded Production Company of the year. This is the third time that RTÉ received this honour. In total, the network earned six gold trophies, nine silvers (plus a UNDPI silver trophy), four bronze, and nine finalist certificates. Moreover, New York Philharmonic USA, TBI Media UK, and WNYC- Radiolab USA, earned the coveted grand award.

From India, MY FM, and Radio Mantra, were awarded one bronze trophy each, while Red FM earned two bronze.

RTÉ radio MD Jim Jennings said, “The win is testament not only to the collective output of our stations, but also to the global appeal of our programming. In this digital age, that is shaping and changing the way people listen, it is important that our content appeals to our international audience as much as our listeners in Ireland. That our programmes not only have relevance to our global audience, but that they resonate to a point that RTÉ Radio has been named Broadcaster of the Year once again, is extremely important to us as a public service broadcaster.”

TBI Media UK founding director Phil Critchlow said, “All at TBI are delighted to be the 2015 Production Company of the year. I’m enormously lucky to work with such a terrific team at TBI. Their dedication and consistent professionalism is only outstripped by their passion for great ideas and determination to deliver the best results. In short - to be recognised in this way amongst the global radio community is a real honour.”

London-based company- TBI Media UK earned a total of seven gold trophies, two silver trophies and a finalist certificate. ‘D-Day: 70 Years On’ TBI Media UK with Snappin’ Turtle productions received the grand award in the best special event category for their program honouring the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings and it earned seven gold trophies.

 The 2015 grand jury awarded 3 grand awards, 53 gold trophies, 62 silver, 58 bronze, and 117 finalist certificates submitted from 32 countries. All entries were judged online by the NYF Radio Awards grand jury of radio experts from stations and companies around the globe.