The Cynopsis Sports Media Awards is a competition that recognizes the best in show both in front of and behind the cameras for the sports industry. The awards will celebrate the talented work of producers, hosts, sponsors and executives alike, saluting the initiatives that drove audiences and turned sports viewers into fans. Crossing the spectrum of television, radio, and online platforms, our list tackles all the corners of the industry including best series and savvy marketing tactics as well as top digital content. We look forward to seeing your submissions!
**Please join us as we honor the winners at an awards event in New York on April 21, 2016.**
Benefits
What does it mean to win a Sports Media Award? Here are just some of the benefits:
■ Crystal awards trophy
■ Recognition at awards breakfast on Thursday, April 21 at the New York Athletic Club
■ Editorial coverage in Cynopsis Sports eNewsletter
■ Editorial coverage online: cynopsis.com
■ Award logo to use on your site and for marketing
■ And most importantly: winning a Sports Media Award positions your program & your people as leaders.
CATEGORIES
Athlete in a Web Series/Special/Spot
This award honors an Athlete in scripted or unscripted series produced for the web, or an actor that transitioned from a web series/special/spot.
B2B Program
It’s a win-win situation for these initiatives, which drive dollars for both parties.
Brand Activation at Live Events
Whose brand marketing became an event within the event? This category recognizing brand marketing excellence and innovation that occurred during a live sporting event.
Documentary Series
Recognizing the quality of a TV or web series produced specifically about an event that took place in the world of sports.
Documentary Special/TV Movie
Recognizing the quality of a special or TV movie produced specifically about an event that took place in the world of sports.
eSports Event of the Year
Fans flocked to see, both in person and via stream, eSports stars shine in their element. This category honors the best eSports tournaments from the past year.
eSports Sponsor Activation
How did brands plug into the eSports base in 2015? These activations leveraged the power of gaming with smart and highly effective promotions to level up awareness.
Integrated Campaign for Brands
Looking at a Brand’s design, ease of use, copywriting, technology, innovation and content, this category recognizes the planning and communication techniques to deliver a seamless yet powerful message to audiences.
Integrated Campaign for Networks
Looking at a Network’s design, ease of use, copywriting, technology, innovation and content, this category recognizes the planning and communication techniques to deliver a seamless yet powerful message to audiences.
Live Coverage of Sporting Event (National)
The big game! The award honors a live, single broadcast of a game or match by a National network or station.
Live Coverage of Sporting Event (Regional/Local)
The big game! The award honors a live, single broadcast of a game or match by a Local network or station.
Live Stream Presentation
A single sporting event designed to be viewed online alone or in conjunction with a television network.
Marketing Campaign
Recognizing the creative use of marketing platforms to promote a sports-themed series or event that generated higher awareness and viewership for the National, Regional/Local broadcast.
Marketing Initiative
What one new, untried tactic launched a thousand+ ships for an event, team or show?
Mobile App
Sure there’s an app for that, but who did it the best? This category recognizes excellence in developing a mobile application produced by or for a media network, sports league or team that is designed to engage sports fans on the go or create a second screen experience.
Network Sports Branding Campaign
Recognizing a long-term multiplatform promotional strategy designed to build an engaged fan base for a game or sports series.
New Sports Show
This category honors the best-sports-themed series in any category launched in the US Between Jan 1, 2015 – Jan 1, 2016.
Overall Social Media Excellence
The best campaign utilizing social media platforms that brought remarkable viral attention and creativity to a team, sports or sports-themed series.
Over the top (OTT) Content Service
Recognizing the app/service with a proven ability to deliver sports’ video, audio and other media content over the web without a multiple system operators being involved in the control or distribution of the content.
Partnership with an Athlete
Honorees in the category would have maximized an alliance with an athlete to him/her synonymous with the brand and spike sales/tune-in as a result.
Pro-Social Campaign
A great use for a great cause. This category recognizes the importance of an on-air or off-air campaign leveraging sports fans to benefit a pro-social initiative.
Proprietary Asset
What internal event, marketing program or other intellectual property gave a boost to your league, sports or sports broadcast? The category honors the best innovation.
Radio Program
Music to our ears. Best regularly scheduled local or national sports series that was broadcast through a local or national radio platform.
RSN of the Year
Which regional sports network stepped up its game and delivered knockout productions, terrific analysis and audience growth to match?
Seasonal Coverage – National
From the opening match to the national championship, this category honors national networks that have dedicated extensive resources into covering every kick, pass, throw, hit and/or maneuver from athletes at a single league throughout a single season.
Seasonal Coverage – Regional
From the opening match to the national championship, this category honors regional networks and stations that showcase programming dedicated to the local team throughout a single season.
Sports Blog
The best blog that covers news and updates about teams, leagues, players and the sports industry in general.
Spot – 30 Seconds
An outstanding single 30 second video-based spot used to market or promote a specific sports program or event.
Spot – Over 30 Seconds
An outstanding single 30+ seconds video-based spot used to market or promote a specific sports program or event.
Studio Show
An outstanding regularly scheduled program that aired in 2015 with eight or more episodes that specifically revolved around sports.
Talk Show
What program was able to break down a game or a signing, debate a personnel move with fellow analysts and keep audiences riveted along the way? This award recognizes excellence in a regularly scheduled series that is primarily interview-based and/or in a roundtable format discussing the state of a sport or sports.
Tune-In Promotion
Best use of an overall promotional campaign designed to drive viewers to a specific series or televised event.
Use of Facebook
Sure fans liked your Facebook campaign, but will the judges? This category honors innovation and efficiency in driving and engaging sports fans on your Facebook page. This category is for entries directly representing a sports network, show, team or league
Use of Integrated Sponsorship for Broadcast
Highlighting a particularly effective way to incorporate a sponsor into an on-air game, campaign or series.
Use of On-Air Design
Title sequences, bumpers, etc. The best work in the business will be honored for its stunning visual displays
Use of Twitter
Leveraging this ubiquitous social media feed 140 characters at a time, your company, media network, sports league or team is a master at Twitter communications.
Webisode series
An online-only program with five or more episodes revolving around sports.
Website
What online site was the best at raising TV viewing numbers for a series or sporting event?
PEOPLE CATEGORIES
Brand Marketer
The person’s brand campaigns would have made tongues wag both inside and outside the industry, with a consistent message that brought in the fans, drove audiences and kept them coming back for more.
Digital Executive
Utilizing the final frontier of media platforms, whose tactics changed the way viewers absorb sports media on digital platforms and raised the bar for the future use of technology?
Marketer
The person’s campaigns would have made tongues wag both inside and outside the industry, with a consistent message that brought in the fans, drove audiences and kept them coming back for more.
Public Relations Agency of the Year
Recognizing outstanding collaboration internally and among clients, the judges will choose the teams whose results in the past year are only second to their outstanding work culture.
Public Relations Professional
A savvy executive who drove the creativity needed in a PR campaign to incorporate the press and public alike into a sports-themed series or event.
Who Should Enter?
The Cynopsis Sports Media Awards are open to all individuals and teams worldwide including: networks, MSOs, teams, leagues, associations, universities, production companies/studios, producers, video game developers/producers, website developers, app developers/producers, licensing companies, marketing companies, PR firms, ad agencies, creative services teams, and developers. Vendors are also eligible to compete on behalf of clients. The program is open to national and international entrants.
Multiple entries are accepted, and a single entry can be entered into more than one category. Please follow the “How to Enter” instructions below for each additional category you will be entering.
Eligibility Period
To be eligible, the entry/campaign initiative must have taken place (either in part or in full) between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2016. The program or initiative must have been initiated during this time, but it’s not necessary for it to be completed during the eligibility period. Note: although we welcome international entries/campaigns, they must have been at least partly accessible in the North American market.
All entries are held in strict confidence and we will not share information unless we receive permission from the entrant. Enter online here.
How to Enter
The entry process is done solely online:
First, you will be stepped through the registration process, and then the nomination (synopsis + supporting materials) and payment process. Start here.
For Campaign/Content/Tech Categories:
Please include a 400-word synopsis describing your campaign, content, initiative, website (etc.) using the following subheadings:
■ Objectives
■ Strategy
■ Tactics
■ Execution
■ Evaluation of Success/Results/ ROI
While these headings are not mandatory, we do recommend using as many as you can as it relates to your entry. The more information provided, the better!
For People Categories:
Please include a 400-word synopsis describing the individual, using the following subheadings:
■ Specific campaigns or efforts spearheaded by this person and related outcomes
■ Innovative thinking
■ Creativity
■ Financial management (where applicable)
While these headings are not mandatory, we do recommend using as many as you can as it relates to your entry. The more information provided, the better!
Supporting materials should show evidence of the success of your work. Examples include:
■ Web sites/URLs
■ ROI Stats
■ Media Coverage
■ Photos
■ Research Documents
■ Screenshots
■ Testimonials
■ Videos*
■ Web Stats
*For videos, we will NOT accept uploads. Instead, please provide a link to view it (YouTube, Vimeo, company’s web site or another video sharing platform)
Deadlines
Deadline: January 21, 2016 | 11:59pm EST
Late Deadline: February 5, 2016 | 11:59pm EST
All entries must be submitted online by January 21, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. Entries submitted after regular deadline, will automatically incur a $200 late fee, per entry.
Entry Fees: The price of each primary entry is $350. If you submit the same entry into multiple categories, the additional fee is $175 per category. There is a late entry surcharge of $200 per entry (after 1/21/15). Payment in full must accompany the entry and fees are non-refundable.
Receipts: Once your entry is submitted and paid, you will be emailed a receipt confirming the payment. The receipt includes payment date, amount, and card number. You can also download a full Invoice that has all the entries paid for listed on it.
W-9 Form – Access Intelligence LLC
Contact Information
Please contact Awards Coordinator, Sarah Martinez at 212.621.4613.
