Academy Approves Changes to Primetime Emmy Rules
The Emmys are facing reality. As part of a new package of changes to its awards rules, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has created a new "reality/competition program" category. The single award will be given to recognize excellence in game shows and competitive, unscripted shows. The changes were announced by Nancy Bradley Wiard, the chairman of the Academy’s Awards Committee, and John Leverence, Vice President, Awards for the Academy.
"Our desire at the Academy is to take a close look at the way things have been done in the past and make improvements when necessary," said Academy Chairman Dick Askin. "Our awards rules and procedures have remained virtually unchanged over the last ten years and the new guidelines we have put into place will make for a better process and be more representative of television as it is today."
Previously, game shows and competitive reality shows were considered in a "special class" category, along with other shows that didn't fit in other categories. The special class category also allowed for multiple winners, which meant all five nominees could conceivably take home statuettes.
Other primetime Emmy rule changes:
Votes Per Category
When the Academy's over 12,000 members receive their ballots for the primetime nominations, the number of votes they may cast for program categories has been increased from up to five to up to ten per category. The top five vote getters will become the nominees selected in each category.
Minimum Number of Qualifying Episodes
The minimum number of episodes required for submission in the comedy and drama series program categories has been increased from three to six. In conjunction, the number of episodes submitted by nominated comedy and drama series for the final round of judging that determines the winners has been reduced from eight to six episodes.
The nominations for the 56th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced on Thursday, July 15. The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast on ABC from the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday, September 19, 2004.