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Shortlist announced for 2006 Edinburgh TV Fest

mgeitfThe Discovery Channel, BBC FOUR, E4, UKTV History and SKY One form the non-terrestrial shortlist for this year's MediaGuardian Edinburgh International TV Festival’s Channel of the Year Awards. The TV festival, running from August 25 - 27, this year features South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker; former vice-president turned environment and media activist Al Gore; Sir David Attenborough, celebrating his 80th birthday, and In The Thick of It's Armando Iannucci.

ITV Chief Executive Charles Allen will deliver the prestigious MacTaggart Lecture at this year’s Festival. Former American Vice President Al Gore is to deliver the keynote Alternative MacTaggart Lecture and will talk about his viewer-created content network, Current TV. As he celebrates his 80th birthday and a television career spanning five decades, Sir David Attenborough will deliver a Planet Earth Masterclass. Attenborough will discuss the acclaimed natural history series and give delegates an early insight into Life in Cold Blood, the series he is currently filming for transmission in 2007. There will also be a preview screening of the new series of Planet Earth.

South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone will be flying in to deliver a special Edinburgh Masterclass on the cult sitcom, now in its tenth season. Parker and Stone will discuss how the series has evolved since its 1997 launch, their approach to the worlds of celebrity and politics, plus what’s next for the show.

The BBC’s Africa correspondent and Al-Jazeera contributor Rageh Omaar will deliver the keynote 2006 Worldview Address, a global view of the television business.

Armando Iannucci is also confirmed to deliver a 2006 Edinburgh Masterclass. The comic writer, performer, satirist, director and producer will join the Festival to discuss his television work, including the award winning sitcom The Thick of It.

Kelvin MacKenzie and George Galloway MP are both confirmed to take part in Too Right? On, a debate led session asking whether it is easier to get on TV if you are right wing. Are right of centre voices more widely heard on British television because more controversial opinions make for better viewing?

Channel of the year awards 

Entertainment and factual channels dominate the shortlist for the 2006 Edinburgh TV Festival’s Channel of the Year Awards. Discovery Channel, BBC FOUR, E4, UKTV History and SKY One form the non-terrestrial shortlist for this year and all terrestrial channels have been short-listed for the terrestrial Channel of the Year.

Additional accolades including Industry Player of the Year and Personality of the Year will also be announced at the ceremony, which takes place on Saturday 26 August at The EICC.

The online poll was conducted by YouGov, who invited members of the public to vote on criteria such as programming, commercial success, innovation, successful targeting and channel branding.

The shortlist will now be judged by the MGEITF Executive Chair and Executive Committee members:
Dawn Airey (Managing Director, Sky Networks and Executive Committee Chair), Tess Alps (Chairman, PHD Group UK), James Baker (Managing Director, Sky Interactive, BSkyB), Michiel Bakker (EVP Managing Director, MTV Networks), Josh Berger (Executive VP & MD Warner Bros UK & Ireland), Murray Boland (Head of Factual Entertainment, Celador Productions), Charles Brand (Head of History and Features, Tiger Aspect Productions), Alan Clements (Chairman IWC Media), Danny Cohen (Controller, E4), Anthony Fry (Head of UK Investment Banking, Lehman Brothers Europe Ltd), Janine Gibson (Editor-in-Chief, MediaGuardian), Joe Godwin (TVYP Chair, Head of CBBC Entertainment), Steve Hewlett (Non-Executive Director, Tiger Aspect Productions), Tim Hincks (Creative Director, Endemol Entertainment UK), Corinne Hollingworth (Head of Drama, ITV), Stephen Lambert (Director of Programmes, RDF Television), Jane Lighting (Chief Executive, Five), William Miller (Managing Director, Miller and Company), Stuart Murphy, Jill Offman (SVP & Channel Director, Discovery UK), Lisa Opie (Managing Director, Flextech), Sally Osman (Head of Communications, BBC), Sara Ramsden (Head of Specialist Factual, Endemol), Paul Robinson (Media Consultant), Jane Root (EVP & GM, The Discovery Channel US), Sham Sandhu (Controller of Pop Features and Special Events, Five), Samir Shah (Managing Director, Juniper), Chris Shaw (Controller of News & Current Affairs, Five). 

Register at  www.geitf.co.uk  / 0870 850 8973 


by Admin

Published 14 June 2006
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