Hubert Burda Media awards the BAMBI to individuals who have demonstrated vision and creativity and whose outstanding achievements and successes have been echoed across the media in the previous year.

Under the aegis of Dr Hubert Burda, the BAMBI jury selects prizewinners in sixteen categories, such as film, fashion and sport. Direct television voting is used to elect the winner of the people’s choice BAMBI. The ceremony is broadcast live to millions of homes; in 2005, more than six million viewers tuned in.

Previous prizewinners have included Muhammad Ali, Halle Berry, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Elke Heidenreich, Elton John, Heidi Klum, Nelson Mandela and Jan Ullrich.