Record Attendance for Texas Broadcast News Awards Celebration

- Bonner McLane Public Service Award Entries Due April 24

Nearly 300 Radio and Television journalists from every market in Texas came together April 11 to celebrate the most impactful daily reporting and investigative journalism serving communities across the state at TAB's 2026 Texas Broadcast News Awards.

It was a record turnout for the event which was emceed by Bob Phillips - TAB's 2025 Pioneer Broadcaster of the Year - and his wife Kelli. Together they lead On the Road with Kelli and Bob - a Texas lifestyle and storytelling program and podcast on KRLD AM-FM in Dallas-Fort Worth and the Audacy app - after selling their long-running Texas Country Reporter show in 2021.

The Headliners Foundation of Texas, represented by Sinclair Broadcast Group's Amy Villarreal and Executive Director Alison Unger, awarded $9,000 in six cash prizes - part of the esteemed organization's Charles E. Green Awards. The Foundation awards a total of $33,000 annually to Texas' best journalists.

Top News Honors

TAB announced the winners of most of the awards in late February, but results in the 123 most competitive categories and six "whole station" awards were announced at the event.

Whole station award winners included:

• Carole Kneeland Award - KVUE-TV Austin
• Overall Texas Broadcasts Excellence:
  • Large Market Radio - KUT Austin
  • All Other Radio Markets - KTBB Tyler-Longview
  • Large Market Television - KENS-TV San Antonio
  • Medium Market Television - KWKT-TV Waco-Temple-Bryan
  • Small Market Television - KXII-TV Sherman-Ada

Bonner McLane Public Service Awards

Entries for the 2026 Bonner McLane Public Service Awards are due Friday, April 24.

Named for TAB's first executive director, the awards come with a total of $6,000 in cash prizes and are presented to Radio and TV stations in large, medium and small markets.

Winning stations will be honored at the biggest night in Texas broadcasting - the Awards Gala on closing night of the 2026 TAB Show Aug. 5-6 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock.

The Texas Radio and TV Stations of the Year and several individual leadership awards also will be presented at the event. Nominations for those awards were due April 17.

Questions? Contact Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.