MUMBAI: For the 2015 edition of New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards, seven Indian radio stations have been nominated in a total of 14 categories. The radio networks include Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (Big FM), KAL Radio Limited (Suryan FM), Digital Radio (Kolkata) Broadcasting Limited (Red FM), Radio Mirchi, HT Media Ltd.(Fever FM), Radio Mantra and Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd (Radio CIty). These finalists will proceed to the medal round, in which they will be awarded gold, silver or bronze trophies.

For the new categories like Best Innovation- Red FM's Kolkata show 'Ek Kahani Aisi Bhi' was shortlisted among other radio stations and their show around the world. Other finalists in the categories include, 'D-Day: 70 Years On'- TBI Media UK; 'The Sister Cities Connection'- Birmingham City University UK; 'IMGR - State of the Art Station Imaging, Production and Delivery'- IMGR UK; 'Park Bench'- RTÉ Radio 1 Ireland; 'Leaving Home'- BBC Radio Lincolnshire UK; 'Blowback'- Deutschlandradio Germany; and 'Radio, with new wings'- CBS Radio South Korea. The category was introduced to showcase creative and technical innovations in radio broadcasting.

The Audio Books categories includes 'HOOD: The Scribe of Sherwood'-Spiteful Puppet Entertainment UK; 'The Brenda and Effie Mysteries/Bat Out of Hull'- Bafflegab Productions UK; 'Walt Whitman: Kinder Adams/Children of Adam' -Harbuch Hamburg Verlag Germany; 'Straight White Male' and 'Darling Monster: The Letters of Lady Diana Cooper to her Son John Julius Norwich 1939-1952' both by RNIB UK.

In the Sound Art category, there two entries –'In Search of Captain Cat of Llareggub' Frequency Oz Australia and 'Cathedral's Fall' Serbia. The other categories include 'Coverage of Breaking News' and 'Culture & The Arts'.

Over 289 finalists were assorted from entries that came from 30 countries by the Grand Jury. The criteria of the judging process included production values, organisation, information presentation, creativity and use of the medium. Out of the 289, RTÉ Networks Ireland programming dominated this year with 33 finalists, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation programming with 24 finalists, BBC 16 and TBI Media United Kingdom with 10 each and followed by Radio Television Hong Kong with nine finalists.

The awards will honour the most innovative work in radio broadcasting, receiving entries from radio stations, networks, and independent producers from around the globe.

The 2015 competition will highlight the world's best radio programs on 22 June at the annual awards gala, which will take place at Manhattan Penthouse in New York City.