Jason Byrne to host 11th Edinburgh 'Channel of the Year' awards

Published Jul 19 2012, 12:58 BST  |  By Andrew Laughlin

Comedian Jason Byrne has been announced as host of the 11th annual 'Channel of the Year' Awards at the Edinburgh TV Festival, where the great and the good of UK broadcasting will compete for the top prizes.

Voting across the various award categories is now open and will remain available until midnight on August 23.



This year's shortlist promises to be a "clash of the TV titans" as some of the most talked-about television programmes of the past 12 months go head to head, including Sherlock, The Voice and Downton Abbey battling it out for 'Terrestrial Programme of the Year'.

A host of famous faces will give out awards on the night, including Victoria Wood - who has written the film Loving Miss Hatto for BBC One - presenting the prestigious 'Terrestrial Channel of the Year' award, which was won last year by ITV1.

Byrne, who will host the ceremony on August 24 in Edinburgh, said: "I'm delighted to be hosting MGEITF's Channel of the Year Awards in Edinburgh in front of a room full of TV execs. It's not my usual audience - but I'm trying not to feel the pressure!! Looks set to be a fab night!"

Now into its eleventh year, the 'Channel of the Year' awards recognise the "increasingly competitive and often challenging market that today's TV companies operate in, and celebrates the creative, innovative and commercial solutions that both channels and production companies present".

Alongside awards celebrating the big shows and channels, there are also accolades honouring cross-platform innovation and talented individuals rising through the TV industry ranks.

ITV director of comedy and entertainment Elaine Bedell, who chairs the festival, said: "We're delighted by the response from broadcasters and indies alike, and the calibre of this year's entrants means we're in for one of the most closely fought awards we have ever seen.

"The shortlist really showcases the breadth of quality and creativity on television screens over the past twelve months, and I'm looking forward to seeing who triumphs on the night."

Festival delegates will be able to vote on the categories by viewing their showreels and completing an online survey designed by GfK Media. Winners will be announced at the 'Channel of the Year' Awards ceremony on Friday, August 24, in Edinburgh.

The full nominations are:

'Terrestrial Channel of the Year'

BBC One
BBC Two
ITV1
Channel 4
Channel 5

'Digital Channel of the Year'

BBC Four
BBC Three
E4
ITV2
Sky 1 HD

'Terrestrial Programme of the Year'

Downton Abbey (ITV1)
Educating Essex (Channel 4)
Homeland (Channel 4)
Sherlock (BBC One)
The Voice (BBC One)

'Digital Programme of the Year'

Celebrity Juice (ITV2)
Him & Her (BBC Three)
Mad Men (Sky Atlantic)
Russell Howard's Good News (BBC Three)
The Killing II (BBC Four)

'Indie of the Year'

Big Talk Productions
The Garden Productions
Twofour
Wall to Wall
Talkback

'Producer or Director Debut of the Year'

Grace Reynolds, producer, Entertaining Essex
Dan Albion, producer, Dynamo: Magician Impossible
Richard Senior, director, Doctor Who ('Let's Kill Hitler')

'Cross Platform Innovation of the Year'

BBC iPlayer
Got To Dance Online
The Bank Job Head-to-Head Game
Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic
The Voice UK Online

'The Network & Ones to Watch Programme Choice Award'

Black Mirror (Channel 4)
Sherlock (BBC One)
Homeland (Channel 4)
Educating Essex (Channel 4)

The MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival will run between August 23 and 25, earlier than in previous years so that "delegates can reclaim their bank holiday weekend".