Prizes are assigned in 10 categories: Children's, Cinema, Culture/ Education, Documentaries, Fiction/ General Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music, National Window, News and Sports.

Originally known as "The HOT BIRD TV Awards", they were launched to recognise the wealth of new content generated by thematic channels at the satellites of Eutelsat and were held for the first time in 1998 in Vicenza, Italy, during the SAT Expo show.

The new name expresses the inclusive character of the competition, since it is open to channels broadcasting from all Eutelsat satellites.

The Eutelsat TV Award is a bronze statue, named Gaia, which in Greek mythology is the goddess of the earth and her myth is a metaphor for satellites that silently encircle the world.

[citation needed] The shortlist of channels is presented during a gala ceremony which is generally held in November in Venice.