Charlton & Bloomberg launch new Business Awards - Brief Article

Business Asia, Nov, 2000

FIRST CHARLTON Communications and news network company Bloomberg have formed an alliance to launch Australia's first ever Business Awards.

The joint venture between the companies will focus on the major business and finance sectors of Australian industry, recognising and rewarding outstanding businesses and their achievements at an annual gala ceremony to be screened across the Bloomberg Television network.

The Awards will be built around 10 categories, each representing a particular industry. Names for each of the categories have not yet been determined, although some suggestions include: "On the land" (Primary Industry), "Movers and groovers" (Big Business), "Clever Communicators" (Telecommunications) and "New Global" (e-commerce).

Peter Charlton, chairman of First Charlton Communications, believes this new opportunity is an exciting and prosperous one.

"I believe we have an excellent concept here. These Awards will give Australian businesses some well-earnt recognition. We hope, through these Awards, to shine a spotlight on businesses that are doing well," he said.

The Inaugural Bloomberg/Charlton Australian Business Awards will be staged by First Charlton Communications, a company with a strong background in managing large-scale award programs. Some of the team's highlight events over the past 10 years include the annual Australian Banking and Finance Awards, Europe Business Review Awards and the National Export Awards, directed on behalf of Austrade. As publisher of several of Australia's key industry-based business magazines, including Australian Banking and Finance, Business Asia and Australian Telecom, the company's expertise in business and finance fields will give the Business Awards an extra edge.

Bloomberg's role in the Awards will be to provide coverage of the event, as well as promote and advertise the Awards program throughout the course of the year. Bloomberg is well equipped for the task, with a list of credentials including print, radio and television media services across the globe. The combined information network has grown into one of the largest financial news, broadcast, and publishing companies in the world, maintaining customers in over 100 countries. Bloomberg's information and newswire services alone have contributed to more than 350 newspapers and magazines worldwide. Customers using the unique Bloomberg Professional multi-screened terminal for news and financial services can access Bloomberg information in five languages.

Bloomberg Television, a key part of Bloomberg's influence, covers business and financial news 24-hours a day through 10 separate networks in seven languages. Bloomberg also produces syndicated programming for television networks and stations, including floor reports from stock exchanges. As a whole, the Bloomberg Television service reaches 200 million people globally.

Although the partnership for the Business Awards is a new one, First Charlton and Bloomberg have worked together before. The Best Business Hotels in Asia Awards, held for its third consecutive year this year, is a partnership between the two companies. In 2000, over 80 hotels participated in the Award's 16 categories, ranging from Best Airline Hotel to overall Best Business Hotel in the Asia Pacific region.

Peter Charlton recognises the potential benefits the latest partnership between the two companies will bring to the business industries of Australia.

"There is a perfect synergy with us and Bloomberg's extensive coverage of the Australian business and finance sectors. We are very pleased to have formed this partnership and look forward to promoting such a prestigious event."

Utilising Bloomberg's television scope alongside Charlton's business publications and event management, the Awards will be based on a nominations format, with applications being submitted via the two companies to a national judging panel for selection. The Hon. Nick Minchin, Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, will officially kickstart nominations for the program at an official press conference and media launch in March next year.

The Awards presentation will then be held in October at a gala dinner and ceremony. A delayed webcast of the Awards will be screened on Bloomberg Television.

To support the program, a 60-page magazine coinciding with the Awards will also be produced. Content for the magazine will include editorial on the various industry sectors, including current trends and issues, finalist/winners profiles and sponsors. This magazine, which will be handed out to attendees on the night, will also be distributed through The Australian newspaper the following day.