article date: 05 May 2000

ref: 23

Classic FM celebrated a triple win at this week’s Sony Radio Awards (2/5/00), including UK Station of the Year, the Station Sound Award and the Gold Award for Chief Executive Ralph Bernard.

For the third time in seven years, Classic FM picked up the Station of the Year award, presented this year by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport Chris Smith, MP.

In their citation the Sony judges said "In the last year, Classic FM has found a really clear on air identity, sounding more natural than ever, and as a result, has achieved its highest audience ratings."

Receiving the award, Classic FM Managing Director Roger Lewis said: "The programming team have created access to classical music for over six million people a week. Our programming success has been matched by our sales team, who have delivered our best ever sales revenues in the past year, and together, we have delivered record margins.

"Off air, our Enterprises team has released one of the biggest selling classical albums of the Nineties, a best selling classical music magazine and open air concerts around the country."

Classic FM was also voted Station of the Year in 1994 and 1997. This year it beat off competition from fellow nominees Radio 1 and Radio 3 to take the Station of the Year 2000 Award.

Boss of parent company GWR, Ralph Bernard, followed Lewis onto the stage at the Grosvenor House to pick a special Gold Award for services to the radio industry and digital radio. Bernard, who is also Chairman of Digital One, celebrates 25 year in commercial radio this September.

He said: "To achieve something like this after so long in the industry must be something which everyone dreams about. It's a particularly important moment for me and everyone who has worked with me over the years. This is a stunning evening for Classic FM."

There was a further Gold Award for the second year in a row for Tim Lihoreau, Head of Production, for Station Sound.

For further information please contact:
Classic FM Press Office 020 7344 9000

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