Mezzo Live HD voted best music channel at the 2013 Golden Ray Awards in Russia

-Golden Ray 2013-
Another award for Lagardère Active’s TV division in Russia

After the Russian version of TiJi was named best children’s channel last year and Mezzo was honoured in 2009, Mezzo Live HD was also singled out in 2010 and 2012 , and has just been named the recipient of the prestigious Music Channel of the Year award by the cable, satellite and Internet television industry in Russia.

The 2013 Golden Ray Awards ceremony was held recently at Russia’s Academy of Sciences in Moscow.

More than 100 cable, satellite and Internet channels were nominated in 16 categories for the fifth annual edition of this event organized by the National Association of Russian TV and Radio Broadcasters (NAT) and Eutelsat S.A.

Based on such criteria as originality of concept, programming diversity, audience share, percentage of original content and distribution mode, the professional jury selected Mezzo Live HD as the recipient of the 2013 Best Music Channel award.

“We are very proud that the professionals on the Golden Ray jury once again selected one of our channels for this honour. In less than four years, this channel watched by over 2.5 million subscribers has become an indispensable component of special-interest television programming in Russia and neigbouring countries. This award marks a resounding success for the channel, which is already broadcast in 24 countries, just a few weeks prior to the launch of its Asian version,” commented Gérald-Brice Viret, Lagardère Active’s managing director for French and international television channels.

“Mezzo Live HD was able to convince the jury by its focus on excellence and quality in the daily management of its programming. This recognition in a country that places so much value on culture in general, and classical music in particular, is a great honour for us. Moreover, Russian music has always been prominently featured on our airwaves. We have recorded eight Russian performances, four of which were broadcast live during the first half of 2013 (including the Mariinsky II Opening Gala in St. Petersburg and Borodin’s opera “Prince Igor” at the Bolchoi in Moscow, to name but two) and we plan to repeat this type of initiative during the 2013-14 season, via partnerships with Russian music institutions.
We invite everyone to join us on 3 December for a Shostakovich programme directed by Valery Gergiev, live from Salle Pleyel,” added Christophe Winckel, director of the Mezzo channels.