Channel Of The Year Awards Shortlist Announced.

LONDON, Friday 21st May, 2010: The MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival today announced the shortlist for the 9th annual Channel Of The Year Awards. Winners will be decided during a live vote at an awards ceremony hosted by top funny man Jack Whitehall on Saturday 28 August 2010.

BBC Four, BBC Three, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, E4, Five USA, Sky1 and Sky News have been shortlisted in the Best Non-Terrestrial Channel Of The Year category. The channels in the running for Best Terrestrial Channel Of The Year are BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five.

Dr Who (BBC One) will go head to head with The X Factor (ITV1), Harry Hill’s TV Burp (ITV1), Outnumbered (BBC One), and Flash Forward (Five) in the Best Terrestrial Programme Of The Year category.

The nominees for Best Non-Terrestrial Programme are 30 Rock (Comedy Central), Glee (E4), Newswipe with Charlie Brooker (BBC Four), Pineapple Dance Studios (Sky1) and The Inbetweeners (E4).

Votes were cast by members of the public, festival delegates, industry professionals and The Network and Fast Track alumni via an online survey designed by YouGov. A total of five categories are being judged at this year’s award ceremony: Best Terrestrial Channel Of The Year, Best Non-Terrestrial Channel Of The Year, Best Terrestrial Programme Of The Year, Best Non-Terrestrial Programme Of The Year and The Network & Fast Track Choice Award.

The winner of Best Terrestrial and Best Non-Terrestrial Channel will be decided by a 50% live audience vote and 50% Festival Executive Committee vote while the Best Terrestrial and Best Non-Terrestrial Programme will be decided solely by an audience of industry peers on the night of the awards.

To vote register to attend the live ceremony and three day festival at www.mgeitf.co.uk. The festival audience will decide.

Winners will be decided during a live vote at an awards ceremony hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall during this year’s festival on Saturday 28 August.

The nominees are as follows:

Terrestrial channel of the year
BBC1
BBC2
ITV1
Channel 4
Channel Five

Non-terrestrial channel of the year
BBC3
BBC4
Cartoon Network
Comedy Central
E4
Five USA
Sky1
Sky News

Terrestrial programme of the year
Doctor Who (BBC1)
The X Factor (ITV1)
Harry Hill’s TV Burp (ITV1)
Outnumbered (BBC1)
FlashForward (Five)

Non-terrestrial programme of the year
30 Rock (Comedy Central)
Glee (E4)
Newswipe with Charlie Brooker (BBC4)
Pineapple Dance Studios (Sky1)
The Inbetweeners (E4)