Governors Award
The Board of Governors of the Television Academy may, when warranted, recognize an individual, company, or organization that has made a profound, transformational, and long-lasting contribution to the arts and/or science of television by presenting them with the Governors Award.
Past recipients of the Governors Award:
| 2024 | Greg Berlanti |
| 2023 | GLAAD |
| 2022 | Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media |
| 2021 | Debbie Allen |
| 2020 | Tyler Perry and The Perry Foundation |
| 2019 | (No award given) |
| 2018 | Star Trek |
| 2017 | ITVS |
| 2016 | American Idol |
| 2015 | A+E Networks |
| 2014 | Marian Dougherty |
| 2013 | June Foray |
| 2012 | It Gets Better Project (co-founders Dan Savage and Terry Miller) |
| 2011 | John Walsh |
| 2010 | Norman Brokaw Ad Council |
| 2009 | Sheila Nevins and her HBO documentary unit |
| 2008 | Planet Earth (National Geographic) |
| 2007 | American Idol Gives Back Addiction |
| 2006 | MTVu Campaign for Darfur |
| 2005 | Jerry Lewis |
| 2004 | Viacom, Inc, for its pro bono publico outreaches |
| 2003 | Lifetime network's "Stop the Violence Against Women" initiative |
| 2002 | ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC for America: A Tribute to Heroes |
| 2001 | Showtime's diversity programming CNN |
| 2000 | A&E's The Biography Project For Schools The Teen Files VH1 Save The Music Foundation |
| 1999 | MTV's "Fight For Your Rights: Take a Stand Against Violence" History Channel's "Save Our History" |
| 1998 | National Geographic Television The Learning Channel's "Great Books" Literacy Project |
| 1997 | ABC's March Against Drugs Campaign Comic Relief Jac Venza |
| 1996 | USA's Erase The Hate Campaign Turner's Native American Initiative |
| 1995 | PBS |
| 1994 | (No award given) |
| 1993 | (No award given) |
| 1992 | Ted Turner |
| 1991 | Masterpiece Theatre |
| 1990 | Leonard H. Goldenson |
| 1989 | Lucille Ball |
| 1988 | William Hanna & Joseph Barbera |
| 1987 | Grant Tinker |
| 1986 | Red Skelton |
| 1985 | Alistair Cooke |
| 1984 | Bob Hope |
| 1983 | Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver |
| 1982 | Hallmark Cards, Inc. |
| 1981 | Elton H. Rule |
| 1980 | Johnny Carson |
| 1979 | Walter Cronkite |
| 1978 | William S. Paley |
updated 8.22.24