Matías Prats, 'Jesus Hermida Lifetime Achievement Award' from the Television Academy

The Academy Council awards the veteran news presenter with its highest award, which will be presented on November 18 at the XXI Iris Awards Ceremony.

The Council of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has decided at its meeting this Tuesday, October 22, to grant the Jesús Hermida Lifetime Achievement Award, to the veteran News anchor Matías Prats in recognition of a career linked to the television medium. The award will be presented on November 18 at the Ceremony of the 21 Premios Iris.

In previous calls, the Academy's highest award has been given to important figures from the television world such as Jesús Hermida, Miguel de la Quadra Salcedo, Antonio Mercero, Chicho Ibáñez Serrador, Josefina Molina, Matías Prats Sr., José de las Casas, Pedro Amalio López, Emilio Aragón “Miliki”, Rosa María Calaf, Rosa María Mateo, Concha Velasco, José Ángel de la Casa, José María Íñigo, Laura Valenzuela, María Teresa Campos, Mayra Gómez Kemp, Fernando García de la Vega, Paloma Gómez Borrero or Xavier Sardá. In its last edition, the Academy recognized Ana Blanco with the Jesús Hermida Lifetime Achievement Award.

A life dedicated to television

Matías Prats was born in Madrid and studied Law and Journalism. At just 19 years old, he began his professional career at the La Voz station in Madrid and in 1975 he made the leap to television with Redacción de Noche (on the UHF channel of the public channel), which would be the first color news program in Spain.

He became known to the entire television audience by covering the events that took place on the occasion of Franco's death. From that moment on, Matías Prats expanded his professional work and covered historical events such as the first official trip that the Kings made as monarchs to China; the first Armed Forces Day parade; the attempted coup d'état of 23-F; the fall of the Berlin Wall; the Gulf War; demonstrations against ETA, etc.

In addition to his role as a news journalist, Matías Prats has presented sports spaces (more than 600 league days in Estudio Estadio), magazines and information spaces of all kinds. He also co-presented the gala on the 40th anniversary of public television, the tenth anniversary of Antena 3 and broadcast the weddings of the Infantas and Prince Felipe.

It has been present at the main sporting events in the world: the Olympic Games, the World Cup, tennis tournaments such as Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the Davis Cup and some of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world such as the Augusta Masters or the Ryder Cup.

In his 23 years at TVE, he served as a presenter on all news schedules until his move to Antena 3, on September 14, 1998, where he has hosted the news programs for the Antena 3 Noticias 1, Antena 3 Noticias 2 and Antena Noticias Fin de Semana editions for 19 years, an edition that he currently presents with Mónica Carillo.

He is a member of the jury for the Prince of Asturias Sports Award. His long list of professional recognitions include the National Television Award in 2017 and nine Awards from the Academy of Television Sciences and Arts in 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2014 and 2017 for best news presenter.