RTS Award for United We Stream GM
RTS Awards 2021
The Royal Television Society North West have honoured United We Stream GM and StreamGM with their Best Digital Creativity Award 2021 in a glittering black tie ceremony this weekend.
The prestigious award, sponsored by Barclays, was presented to digital production team Badger & Combes for their innovative work on United We Stream during the 2020 pandemic.
Originally founded as the Television Society in 1927, the society was granted its Royal title in 1966, with HRH The Prince of Wales became Patron of the RTS in 1997. The society is supported by UK and global broadcasters, producers and consultants, including BBC, Sky, Channel 4 and ITV.
The Best Digital Creativity category was fiercely contested by TV industry giants: BBC, Granada Television and Lime Pictures, but the Badger’s talent and tenacity was recognised for ‘outstanding production work’.
Proud Badger & Combes Managing Partner Colin McKevitt led his team of delighted badgers onto the stage of The Point at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, and was presented their accolade by representatives from the Royal Television Society.
RTS North West judges said: "A fantastic achievement by independent digital media company, Badger & Combes. United We Stream GM and Stream GM is one of the finest examples of a media response to the pandemic, which reached a global audience with a stable platform that was watched by millions.”
Colin said: We are immensely proud of our commitment to Greater Manchester’s art, culture and night-time economies. When we were asked to support this key affected sector in lockdown, we didn’t hesitate to put a plan in place that enabled us to capitalise on our digital skillsets.
“We never imagined that working in such a small team would result in raising so much money and reaching a huge global audience.
“The award itself is a fantastic recognition to our knowledge and passion in delivering creative digital projects not only for the media industry but for strategic partners and business too.
“We look forward to people getting in touch to find out more about how we connected the United We Stream GM audiences together, and made them part of the broadcasts.”
Co-founder of StreamGM, Marie Claire Daly said: “The StreamGM team are absolutely thrilled to have received this prestigious award. From its inception, back in March 2021, when Sacha Lord brought the United We Stream concept to the UK, Badger & Combes were key to the success of our global platform, providing creative and high-quality digital solutions to challenges no one could have ever foreseen.
“That our small team managed to beat some of the amazing talent in this category is phenomenal and in no small part down to the amazing creative talent we have in Greater Manchester, from our DJs and club nights, to our musicians, poets and performers.
“StreamGM is moving with the times and will be back in the new year in a new direction to reflect the evolving landscape, with even more exciting, ambitious projects to illustrate our rich, local culture through live-streaming.”
Renowned Mancunian DJ Paulette, who has performed on United We Stream a number of times said:” Congratulations to StreamGM and Badger & Combes on winning their Royal Television Society Award. It went to the most talented big hearted hardworking team and it was a joy to meet and work with you all,”
Digital Cities Festival Director Martyn Collins agreed: “Amazing and never in doubt. You guys are the best!”
Adam Comstive from Bury Met concluded: “ The United We Stream team moved into The Met about three weeks into lockdown in April 2020. and just started creating aceness. By New Years Eve the team were broadcasting from Bury to literally millions worldwide, via a 270 seater room best known for folk gigs, which was transformed into the clubbing capital of the North.”