Interactive Television Emmy to be Voted Online

For the first time in its history, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has sanctioned online balloting as a means of determining an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Television, it was announced today by Dick Askin, Chairman of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. "The technology is here, and it’s appropriate that we begin online voting with this particular Emmy Award," said Askin. "We hope it is a process that will be extended in the future to other Emmy Award categories." Now in its third year, the Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Television is a juried award which recognizes interactive media and its role in enhancing and extending the television viewing experience. The first round of the two-part judging process will involve home viewing of qualified entries by members of the Academy's Interactive Media Peer Group. They will vote by online ballot to narrow the field of entries. Round two of the judging will involve a panel of qualified professionals meeting and voting at the Academy to determine whether one entry, more than one entry, or no one receives an Emmy statue or plaque in this category. Final recommendations are ratified by the Board of Governors. The Interactive Television Emmy Awards recognizes original Interactive Television programming content, applications or services, which has been deployed domestically during the period of June 1, 2003 – May 31, 2004. Entries must be received no later than May 28, 2004. Entry areas include: Enhanced Television, Virtual Channel, and Interactive Television Service. Specific requirements for each area, the official "Call for Entries" and applications can be found at www.emmys.com/interactive. The recipients of last year's Interactive Awards were awarded to NASCAR’s In Car on iN Demand for Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Television and to Cablevision Systems Corp for iO: Interactive Optimum for Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Television For An Interactive TV Service. Winners will be announced during the Creative Arts Awards, which will take place on September 12, 2004. In addition, all entries will automatically be entered into the Interactive Television Archives, part of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation’s Archive of American Television. In tandem with the announcement, Interactive Media Peer Group Governors Brian Seth Hurst and Chris Swain recognized the dedication and energy of the peer group’s Emmy Award Committee members. They include: Chairperson Stephanie Otto, co-chair Tracy Fullerton, Jonathan Boltax, David Preisman, Vincent Groff, Julie Simon, Matt Murphy, Rosemary Danon, Rebecca Lim, Michael McKenna, Suzanne Dunn, John P. Roberts, Spence Bovee, Joe Franzetta, David Jensen, Stuart Rohrer and Elaine Spooner.