IFTN Announces Sony Bravia TV Personality of the Year Award Nominees

The organisers of the fifth Annual Irish Film & Television Awards have announced the eight nominees for the Sony Bravia TV Personality of the Year Award, one of three People’s Choice categories that are voted for by the general public.
The Award will see the eight nominees, as put forward by Irish broadcasters, compete to claim the title of Ireland’s favourite TV Personality.
Commenting on this Award category, Aine Moriarty, CEO of The Irish Film & Television Awards, said: “It is our great pleasure to announce Sony Bravia as the official sponsor of the TV Personality of the Year Award for the next three years. It is an excellent collaboration since Sony Bravia represents the finest in television technology and each year our nominees are the elite of Irish television broadcasters. This is always an exciting category and people all over Ireland will now choose who is crowned the Sony Bravia TV Personality of the Year.”
The Irish public can choose their favourite TV Personality from the following nominations: Stephen Nolan - BBC; Michelle Doherty - Channel 6; Kathy Hoffman - City Channel; Kathryn Thomas - RTÉ; Paul Dempsey – Setanta Sports; Síle Ní Bhraonáin - TG4; Lorraine Keane - TV3; Julian Simmons – UTV.
Public voting can either be done through texting or via the official IFTA website www.ifta.ie from Tuesday 22nd of January until Monday 11th February 2008.
This year's winner will be announced at the Awards ceremony, which takes place in Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre on Sunday 17th February 2008. The ceremony will be broadcast on RTÉ One at 9.30pm that night.
Previous winners of this top award include Bill O’Herlihey, Miriam O’Callaghan, Mark Cagney and Claire Byrne.
Speaking at the launch Aisling Walsh, Marketing Communications Manager Sony Ireland, said: “We are delighted to announce today the nominees for the Sony Bravia TV Personality of the Year - this is Sony's first year to be involved with the prestigious IFTA Awards and we look forward to building a great partnership over the coming three years. The category represents the best in Irish television talent and we are proud to be a part of the recognition of their achievement.”
Following on from the success of the Awards in 2007, this year's Awards ceremony promises to be a highly prestigious and glamorous event with a host of film and television actors, personalities, directors, producers and distinguished guests in attendance to celebrate the undisputed talent that exists within the film and television industries in Ireland and around the globe.
The public must text IFTA and the first name of their chosen nominee to the shortcodes below: Rep. of Ireland 53345 (Texts cost max 60c); Northern Ireland
85556 (Texts cost 35p + 1 std rate message) – 1 std rate message is max 12p.
(SP)