The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced today Virgin TV as the new title sponsor for the British Academy Television Awards.
As part of the three year partnership, Virgin TV will launch a new award as part of the ceremony on Sunday 14 May: Virgin TV’s Must-See Moment. This will be the only award at the ceremony voted by the British public, and celebrates moments from the television programmes that got the nation talking in 2016.
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: “Virgin TV shares our commitment to promoting excellent television, and the Virgin TV’s Must-See Moment award will highlight some of the most talked about television and give the public the chance to have their say. We are very excited about our partnership with Virgin TV and look forward to celebrating the very best in television together at the Awards.”
David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin TV, said: “Virgin TV’s commitment to the British Academy Television Awards is a celebration of the enduring power great television has to fire emotions and get people talking.
“While the TV industry is certainly undergoing lots of change, there’s one thing that will always remain true – the need to ‘talk about TV’. Through our partnership with BAFTA we’re looking forward to recognising the UK’s best TV moments and we want the public to vote for their favourite.”
The Virgin TV’s Must-See Moment award will celebrate the dramatic scenes, cliff-hangers and the laugh-out-loud TV clips – all of which got the nation talking, tweeting, posting, sharing and discussing. Across every type of TV genre from current affairs, drama, documentary and YouTube series, the new Virgin TV’s Must See Moment award taps into the zeitgeist of truly loved television.
The Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards are presented annually to recognise, honour and reward individuals for outstanding achievement in television.
The award categories at the ceremony reflect the wealth and diversity of British television. They include Director, Drama Series, Comedy & Comedy Entertainment Programme, International, Current Affairs and Reality & Constructed Factual.
This year’s Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards will take place on Sunday 14 May at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Notes To Editors
KEY DATES
Tuesday 28 March – Nominations announced: British Academy Television Craft Awards
Tuesday 11 April – Nominations announced: Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards
Thursday 20 April – Nominees Party
Sunday 23 April – British Academy Television Craft Awards
Sunday 14 May – Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards
The recipients of the Fellowship, the Special Award and the Outstanding Creative Contribution to Television Award will be announced in the coming months.
For further information:
Nick Baxter at freuds
T: 0203 003 6658
E: [email protected]
Verity Henderson, Virgin Media
T: 0333 000 2900
E: [email protected]
Accreditation:
Red Carpet media accreditation for the Television Awards opens on 11 April. www.bafta.org/press/accreditation
