The Rose d'Or ('Golden Rose') is an international awards festival in entertainment broadcasting and programming. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) first acquired the Rose d'Or in 1961, when it was created by Swiss Television in the lakeside city of Montreux. The awards stayed with the EBU for almost 40 years. The EBU re-acquired the awards in 2013 and successfully re-launched the event that year in Brussels, then relocated to Berlin from 2014 to 2018.
In 2014 the event took place on 17 September in Berlin, Germany. For the first time in its 53-year history, the competition categories were extended to include radio and online video programmes in addition to the traditional focus on television. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from several countries took part.
In 2019 the EBU partnered with international publishing company and digital channels business C21Media to take over the organisation of the Rose d'Or Awards. The 60th Rose d'Or was held virtually in November 2021.
Format Categories for the 2020 awards: Comedy: scripted and non-scripted comedy shows including sketch shows, panel, improvisation, clips, comedy specials and stand-up. Series or single programmes. Comedy Drama and Sitcom: scripted comedy series or one-off dramas, involving regular characters in various situations. Drama: scripted series or one-off dramas involving characters in various situations. A main plot can be resolved within a single episode or over a series. Soap or Telenovela: best multi-episode popular drama or melodrama, either on-going or limited run. Reality and Factual Entertainment: programmes or series in which a situation or topic is treated or created through real people or which tell their story by following real-life characters. Arts: programmes or series featuring performing arts and cultural programmes, stage recordings and television adaptations of performing arts or documentaries dedicated to art forms or artists. Documentary: factual programme or series providing in-depth analysis of a specific subject or point of view supported by evidence and informed commentary, on any subject other than the Arts. Studio Entertainment: studio-based game shows, variety shows, event series and specials. Children and Youth: all genres produced for children and youth older than 6 years. Series or single programmes will be considered. Social Media Video Series: original fiction or non-fiction short-form video series, (under a half an hour duration) that premiere on social, web, mobile and video platforms. Audio Entertainment: scripted or unscripted original podcast, audio-first books and radio shows. Entries accepted from producers, platforms, distributors or talent. Innovation in the time of Covid: Award for the programme or series, that, against all the odds, defined what television can achieve – and how television can be produced – in a time of unprecedented crisis.
In addition, the Rose d'Or recognises significant individual achievements by awarding one trophy each for: Emerging Talent Award: the Organiser, in consultation with the panel of judges, will present this award to a new talent who has made a breakthrough performance in a programme or series in the past year. Performance of the Year: the Organiser, in consultation with the panel of judges, will present this award to a personality who has made an outstanding performance in a programme or series in the past year. Lifetime Achievement: the Organiser, in consultation with the panel of judges will award the Lifetime Achievement to a personality who has made an outstanding and extensive contribution to the world of entertainment including, but not exclusively, their work in television, audio or online media.
The ultimate accolade for a programme or series, The Golden Rose, awarded to the programme, series or individual that, in the opinion of the judges, has made the outstanding contribution of 2020.
History The festival was founded by Marcel Bezençon, who was inspired by the need of what was then a small group of international colleagues to find programmes to fill their summer schedules. He had the idea that Switzerland could produce an entertainment programme, which could then be swapped with programmes from other national broadcasters. The festival was held in the spring to have programmes ready for broadcast in the summer, and the Golden Rose awards established as an extra incentive. As the festival grew, programme swaps ceased to be viable and the concept of the Film Kiosk was born. The awards became an important part of European television culture, and Golden Rose winners usually receive publicity in their home countries.
Golden Rose winners 1961–2003 Year Winner Network Country 1961 The Black and White Minstrel Show BBC United Kingdom 1962 Kaskad SR Sweden 1963 Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall CBS United States 1964 Happy End SSR / TSR Switzerland 1965 The Cold Old Days YLE Finland 1966 L'Arroseur arrosé ORTF France 1967 The Frost Report BBC United Kingdom 1968 Historia de la frivolidad TVE Spain 1969 Holiday in Switzerland SRG / SF DRS Switzerland 1970 Les six évadés ČST Czechoslovakia 1971 Lodynski's Flohmarkt Company ORF Austria 1972 The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine UKIB / ATV United Kingdom 1973 The N.S.V.I.P.'s SR TV1 Sweden 1974 Don Juan TVE Spain 1975 Fatti e Fattacci RAI Italy 1976 The Nor-Way to Broadcasting NRK Norway 1977 The Muppet Show UKIB / ATV United Kingdom 1978 The Shirley MacLaine Special – Where Do We Go From Here? CBS United States 1979 Rich Little's Christmas Carol CBC Canada 1980 Dream Weaver CBC Canada 1981 Mikhail Baryshnikov on Broadway ABC United States 1982 Dizzy Feet UKIB / Central United Kingdom 1983 Al Paradise RAI Italy 1984 I am a Hotel CBC Canada 1985 The Paul Daniels Magic Easter Show BBC United Kingdom 1986 Penn and Teller Go Public CPB United States 1987 The Prize SVT Sweden 1988 The Comic Strip Presents... The Strike Channel 4 United Kingdom 1989 Hale & Pace UKIB / LWT United Kingdom 1990 Mr. Bean UKIB / Thames United Kingdom 1991 A Night on Mount Edna LWT United Kingdom 1992 Brian Orser: Night Moves CBC Canada 1993 The Kids in the Hall Broadway Canada 1994 Sevillanas Sogepaq Spain 1995 Don't Forget Your Toothbrush Ginger / Channel 4 United Kingdom 1996 Itzhak Perlman – In the Fiddler's House CPB United States 1997 Cold Feet Granada Television United Kingdom 1998 Yo-Yo Ma Inspired by Bach Rhombus Canada 1999 The League of Gentlemen BBC United Kingdom 2000 The Mole VRT Belgium 2001 Lenny Henry in Pieces Tiger Aspect / BBC United Kingdom 2002 Pop Idol Thames TV / ITV United Kingdom 2003 Faking It RDF Media / Channel 4 United Kingdom
2004 Category Winner Television network Country Arts & Specials Amelia Rhombus Canada Comedy Creature Comforts Aardman Animations / ITV United Kingdom Game Show My New Best Friend Tiger Aspect United Kingdom Music One Bullet Left SF DRS Switzerland Reality Show Wife Swap Channel 4 United Kingdom Sitcom Peep Show Channel 4 United Kingdom Soap Saint Tropez (Sous le soleil) Marathon France Variety Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Granada Television United Kingdom Press Prize Little Britain BBC United Kingdom Paper format From Rust to Riches Team Gryttjom Sweden Pilot award Fur TV MTV United Kingdom Charity award Peter Ustinov United Kingdom Honorary Rose John de Mol Netherlands Best performances: Comedy F: Anke Engelke in Ladykracher Brainpool / Sat.1 Germany M: Harry Hill in Harry Hill's TV Burp Avalon United Kingdom Sitcom F: Felicitas Woll in Berlin, Berlin Studio Hamburg Germany M: Martin Freeman in Hardware Talkback Thames United Kingdom Soap F: in Sous le soleil Marathon France M: Shane Richie in EastEnders BBC United Kingdom Game show Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly in Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Granada Television United Kingdom
2005 Category Winner Television network Country Arts & Specials The Cost Of Living DV8 Films Comedy Little Britain BBC United Kingdom Game Show Test the Nation Talent TV / BBC United Kingdom Music Flashmob – The Opera BBC United Kingdom Reality Show Supernanny Channel 4 United Kingdom Sitcom Nighty Night BBC United Kingdom Soap Verbotene Liebe ARD Germany Variety Strictly Come Dancing BBC United Kingdom Press Prize Schillerstraße Hurricane Fernseh Productions Germany Paper format Daycare Dilemma SBS Sweden Pilot award Dinner Dating First Entertainment Germany Charity award Bob Geldof Ireland Honorary Rose Herbert Kloiber Germany Best performances: Comedy F: Pippa Haywood in Green Wing Channel 4 United Kingdom M: David Walliams and Matt Lucas in Little Britain BBC United Kingdom Sitcom M: Peter Kay in Max & Paddy's Road to Nowhere Channel 4 United Kingdom F: Zoë Wanamaker in My Family BBC United Kingdom Soap F: Lesley-Anne Down in The Bold and the Beautiful CBS United States M: Pat Nolan in Fair City RTÉ Ireland Game show Thomas Gottschalk in Wetten, dass..? Germany
2006 Category Winner Television network / Production Company Country Arts & Specials Girl in a Mirror ABC TV Australia Comedy Look Around You BBC United Kingdom Game Show Deal or No Deal Channel 4 United Kingdom Music Gospel in Paradiso Netherlands Reality Show The Apprentice BBC United Kingdom Sitcom Extras BBC United Kingdom Soap Verliebt in Berlin Sat.1 Germany Variety Friday Night Project: Billie Piper Channel 4 United Kingdom Press Prize Pastewka Sat.1 Germany Paper format Pilot award Alex FM Germany Charity award Fuji Television Japan Honorary Rose Ricky Gervais United Kingdom Best performances: Comedy F: Jo Joyner in Swinging Five United Kingdom M: Chris Lilley in The Nominees ABC Australia Sitcom M: Bastian Pastewka in Pastewka Sat.1 Germany F: Ashley Jensen in Extras BBC United Kingdom Soap F: Alexandra Neldel in Verliebt in Berlin Sat.1 Germany M: Jack Wagner in The Bold and the Beautiful United States Game show Stephen Fry in QI BBC United Kingdom FRAPA Awards: Scripted Format Award The Nanny Sony Pictures Television United States Game Show Format Award Deal or No Deal Endemol Netherlands Reality Format Award The Biggest Loser Reveille Productions United States
2007 Category Winner Television network Country Arts Documentary Young@Heart Channel 4 United Kingdom Comedy The Vicar of Dibley BBC United Kingdom Performing Arts Peter and the Wolf Channel 4 United Kingdom Performing Arts: Special Mention Car men NPS Netherlands Reality Secret Millionaire Channel 4 United Kingdom Reality: Special Mention My Last Words Palm Plus Productions Netherlands Show The Pyramid Castor Multimedia Croatia Sitcom Not Going Out BBC United Kingdom Soap Con Passionate S4C United Kingdom Soap: Special Mention Home Affairs SABC South Africa Best of 2007 Special Prize Young@Heart Channel 4 United Kingdom Opera Special Prize Man on the Moon Channel 4 United Kingdom Opera Special Prize: Special Mention Mozart 22 - Le Nozze di Figaro Unitel GmbH & Co KG GermanyHonorary RoseBen Elton (Lifetime Achievement) United Kingdom
2008 Category Winner Television network Country Arts Documentary Strictly Bolshoi Channel 4 United Kingdom Comedy Kombat Opera Presents BBC Two United Kingdom Drama Skins E4 United Kingdom Drama: Special Mention The Street II BBC United Kingdom Entertainment Hider in the House BBC Two United Kingdom Game Show Power of 10 CBS United States Performing Arts Mozart's Magic Flute - Onstage and Backstage Schweizer Fernsehen Switzerland Reality The Phone AVRO Netherlands Sitcom The IT Crowd Channel 4 United Kingdom Best Entertainer Peter Serafinowicz BBC Two United Kingdom Best of 2008 Kombat Opera Presents BBC Two United Kingdom
2009