Cool FM Sweep The Board at NIMA
Downtown & Cool FM have cleaned up at the prestigious CIPR Northern Ireland Media Awards – picking up a haul of five golds and one silver.
The stations’ superb all-round performance at what is the highlight of the industry’s calendar here was particularly opportune for Cool FM which is currently celebrating 25 years on air.
The glittering ceremony, hosted by well-known broadcaster Colin Murray at the Mac in Belfast, brought together the cream of the local media world including programme makers and journalists across print, digital and broadcasting.
Also among the 250 plus attendees were reps from the PR and business world.
But it was Downtown/Cool’s night – winning more awards than any other radio broadcaster.
Our coveted award winners were:
Cool FM Breakfast presenter ‘Pete Snodden’ who was named ‘Entertainment Presenter of the Year’
Downtown’s Big T won ‘DJ of the Year’ with the judges remarking how he has put Country Music on the map here over an incredible 40 years on the air!
Chief Reporter Jordan Moates picked up a remarkable two golds - for the ‘Martin O’Hagan Newcomer of the Year’ which includes a £500 bursary - and also the overall ‘Broadcast Journalist of the Year for Radio’.
Naomi Holland won a silver for ‘News & Current Affairs Presenter of the Year’. Pictured below at the recent Bauer Media Awards with Head of News, Nigel Gould.
And the main radio of the award of the night was also awarded to Cool FM for ‘Music Station of the Year’ with the judges commentating “Celebrating its 25th year and still sounding as fresh and upbeat as when it first started, Cool FM was the obvious choice. Giving the people of Belfast great music, great chat and great prizes, Cool FM keeps Northern Ireland entertained and is a deserving winner of this award”
Mark Mahaffy, Regional Managing Director, said: “I**t has been a remarkable year, in so many ways, for both our stations with numerous local and UK awards.
“The 2015 NIMA Awards, with five golds and one silver has completed a year that has seen Cool celebrate its 25th birthday (and still scoop 'Music Station of the Year') and that has also witnessed the digital birth of Downtown Country.
“For Downtown and Cool to win another six prestigious awards is testament to the top programming and presenting teams in Northern Ireland as we continue to celebrate these successes and indeed the highest combined market share and reach in the country.”
Programme Controller Stuart Robinson said “This is a great achievement for our stations, with Downtown approaching its 40th Birthday and Cool FM having just celebrated its 25th – one of the main focuses it to ensure our stations continue to sound relevant to mass audience in a changing market – these awards rubber stamp this strategy.
“This really has been the icing on the cake for us – to win five NIMA Gold Awards, in a year when we've increased Downtown and Cool FM's combined audience, added on over 1 million extra listening hours, celebrated Cool FM's 25th Birthday with the biggest ever radio giveaway in NI and launched an entire new radio station ‘Downtown Country’ - all incredible achievements from our market leading team”.
Head of News & Sport Nigel Gould added: “It really has been a superb year for the news team. Both Jordan and Naomi have already picked up UK awards and adding coveted CIPR golds and silver to that haul, is quite simply a fabulous achievement.”