THE BALCONYTV INTERNET AWARDS

Ok, hmmmmm, where to begin with this entry?
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Basically I have a bit of a gripe with so called 'Irish Internet Awards'. There are two main award ceremonies in Ireland, as far as I can see, with my brief knowledge of the Irish internet 'scene'.

1/ The Digital Media Awards
These awards are held in the Burlington Hotel. Have over 20 categories. They cost 130Euros plus vat to be considered for an award. And if nominated cost 220Euros per seat to attend.

2/ The Golden Spider Awards
These awards are also held in the Burlington Hotel. They also have over 20 categories. They also cost about 130Euros to be considered for an award. And they cost over 260Euros to attend.

No difference.

Both awards ceremonies have 'big' sponsors. For instance 'Business and Finance Magazine' is one sponsor of the Golden Spiders. It just so happens that said magazine is the holder of the 'Internet Hero Award' from the Golden Spiders. Whatever that is.

You can actually enter the category of 'Internet Hero' if you want. Who would be so vain? I ask you!!!!

The thing that bothers me about these awards is that they completly fail to encourage young people to create interesting websites - surely the whole point of an award ceremony. And charging so much for entry and attendence, what hope do they ever have?

I can't gaurentee there are that many interesting websites coming from Ireland. Its very hard to think of any. But to be honest, who cares what the 'Best Property Website' is? Or what the best Education, Research and Training Website is?

It cost BalconyTV over 1200Euros to be considered for an award at last years Digital Media Awards. 1200Euros, that we didn't have in reality. More the fools we are. We did win Best Music Website. We did tout this to the world. But to be honest, it didn't feel entirely right.

Having made a reasonably successful short film myself, I know all about the film festival circuit. You can be considered for the Cannes Film Festival for 50 quid. You can be considered for the Oscars for less. Why so much for the Irish internet awards?

So in saying all that, we here at BalconyTV have been mulling over creating our own internet award ceremony. And I'm beginning to think it would be a good idea.

Simply put, we are looking for five innovative, qookie, unusual, creative, experimental websites. Entry is free. If you have a website, which you think deserves recognition send your details here. The BalconyTV Internet Awards are born!!! The ceremony will be held November 22nd on the Balcony!

More on this tomorrow, when I get my head around how this all going to work!

Meanwhile, here is some further reading.
http://www.pixelapes.com/index.php/2007/08/17/irish-web-design-awards.html
http://www.irishwebawards.com/index.php/Main_Page
http://www.redcardinal.ie/webdev/06-11-2006/golden-spiders/
http://www.goldenspiders.ie/
http://www.digitalmedia.ie/