Test Your Connection
Speed Now

Emmys Include Broadband Content

May 23, 2008

This year, Broadband programs will be included in the Emmy Awards nomination process. The decision will allow Internet programs such as the popular “Prom Queen” and “Quarterlife” to compete with traditional television programming for nominations.

A clash between New York-based National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) and Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) has made this final outcome a slow process. NATAS oversees the Daytime and News and Documentary Emmy Awards, while its Hollywood counterpart, ATAS, is responsible for the Primetime Emmy Awards.

No Separate Emmy Category for Broadband Programs

Arbitration began when NATAS planned to give awards to new-media programming – including Internet offerings – by creating a separate category to accommodate them. ATAS objected stating that by creating new categories NATAS was in violation of the existing agreement between the two academies. The ATAS stance was that broadband programming should be considered under existing guidelines, not as a separate category. The case was heard by the New York State Supreme Court which ruled in March that NATAS may not create a separate category specifically for broadband offerings.

Internet Shows Will Compete in Traditional Emmy Categories

NATAS has accepted the final ruling of of the court and says they will conform to the same guidelines ATAS does to encourage those who create and produce broadband programs to submit their nominations in the Emmy process, but as a part of the traditional format. Existing categories include drama, comedy, variety, reality, children’s programs, news, documentaries, and sports.

Television Studios Court Emmy Nominations on the Internet

Showtime, for the first time this year, put full seasons of its original series on the Web for Academy members to view. In 2005, when Showtime used this strategy for “Huff,” the show ended up receiving seven Emmy nominations despite low ratings. Almost every other major television studio – with the exception of 20th Century Fox – has made their shows available to Academy voters through DVD mailers or streaming episodes online.

Nominations will be announced July 17 and the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will air September 21.