A BASKETBALL show has won a top TV sports award for Tyne Tees Television.

Slam XXL took the prize for best regional sports programme actuality award at the Royal Television Society Sports Awards ceremony, at London's Hilton Hotel.

The judges praised the programme for "squeezing every last ounce of value out of a supposedly minority sport".

They said the programme was well-paced, sharply shot, simply but extremely well explained and both entertaining and credible.

Slam XXL, a joint production with Tyne Tees' sister station, Yorkshire Television, concentrated on coverage of Newcastle Eagles and Sheffield Sharks.

Tyne Tees' head of sport Roger Tames, who was also shortlisted for regional sports presenter, said: "This was extremely rewarding recognition for an awful lot of hard and creative work by a whole team of people.

"We were also very pleased for basketball, which is a great game involving a lot of exceptionally nice people who supported our coverage all the way. Let's hope it's the Eagles' turn to pick up the trophies next season."