TELEVISION ACADEMY ANNOUNCES DEADLINE TO ENTER 61ST PRIMETIME EMMY® AWARDS INTERACTIVE TELEVISION COMPETITION

North Hollywood, CA– The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Interactive Media Peer Group has announced its April 24th deadline for entries in the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards competition for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media.
New this year to the competition is the change in status of Interactive Media Finalists to full-fledged nominee status in both the fiction and nonfiction categories.  And unlike previous years, the entry process is now an online procedure at emmys.tv.
“Winners aside, nominee status is an officially recognized honor, signifying the relevance and importance of cross-media programming within the Academy and the television industry,” said Geoff Katz, Interactive Media Peer Group Co-Governor.
“In the past, many truly outstanding entries went unrecognized due to the nature of these awards’ designation," he continued, "so we consider this change a reflection of the progressive tone that’s been adopted by Television Academy leadership.”

Interactive Media Peer Group Co-Governor Marcelino Ford-Livene comments, "This year marks a significant milestone in our Peer Group’s awards history.  It also validates how pervasive and accessible the multi-platform, interactive television experience has become for large sectors of the public.”
The Interactive Media Awards were established in 2003 to recognize emerging television programming formats, innovations by program creators and groundbreaking interactive media experiences, including participatory interactive features that enhance the traditional viewing experience. 
The Interactive Media Peer Group was created nine years ago to acknowledge the changing landscape of television. Specifically, the peer group recognizes that audiences are becoming more engaged in the television viewing experience through interactive features delivered via broadcast, cable, satellite, broadband and mobile networks.
This year’s Interactive Media Emmy Award honors interactive programs or series that were commercially deployed between June 1st, 2008, and May 31st, 2009, and demonstrate creative excellence in interactive media. 
The deadline for submitting an online entry form is April 24th, 2009, and the video submission deadline is May 12th, 2009.

The 2008–09 awards will recognize excellence in two areas of competition:
                                                     
OUTSTANDING CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT
IN INTERACTIVE MEDIA: FICTION
This award will go to outstanding fiction-based interactive programs or series presenting opportunities for audience engagement. Content beyond passive, linear television viewing will be considered, including programming that provides access to additional information, extends plots or characters into interactive, cross-media environments, or contains elements facilitating individual or community participation.
Eligible entries in this area of competition include the interactive media components of a Drama Program or Series; Comedy Program or Series; and Made-for-Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special. This year, there will be three nominees in this category.
OUTSTANDING CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT
IN INTERACTIVE MEDIA: NON-FICTION
This award recognizes overall creative excellence in the interactive media components of nonfiction-based programs or series. Interactive media presents opportunities for audience engagement extending beyond the passive, linear traditional television viewing experience. Entrants will be considered according to a variety of factors, including providing access to additional information, interaction with stars and personalities, or offering elements permitting viewers to interact and potentially impact the action on screen. 
Eligible entries in this area of competition include the interactive media components of a Reality Program or Series; Reality Competition Program or Series; Variety Comedy or Music Program or Series; or Non-fiction Program or Series. This year, there will be three nominees in this category.

A Blue Ribbon Panel of leading figures in the Television Academy’s Interactive Media Peer Group will evaluate entries in both categories. Specific requirements for each area, additional information and the official Entry Submission Form can be found at www.emmys.com/interactive.
Recipients of the 2008 Interactive Television Emmys were NBC.com’s “Heroes Digital Experience” for fiction and Disney Channel Games’ Digital Media Event for nonfiction.
Katz and Ford-Livene recognized the efforts of the peer group’s Primetime Emmy Awards Working Group, which develops areas of competition and oversees the awards process. 
For 2008-09, the list includes Damon Berger, Moderati; Eric Breitbard, Schematic; Richard Cardran, media consultant, Sanjit Das, ABC.com; Channing Dawson, Scripps; Joe DiNunzio, Fido Entertainment; David Feldstein, DIRECTV; John Gilles, Method; Peter Hammersly, NBC; Brian Havens, CBS.com; Rebecca Rusk Lim, Starz; Jaime Russell, Huge; Adrian Sexton, New Medici; Suzanne Stefanac, AFI Digital Content Lab and Joe Tolerico, NBC.

*   *   *

About the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was founded in 1946 just one month after network television was born. It is a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of telecommunications arts and sciences and to fostering creative leadership in the telecommunications industry.
In addition to recognizing outstanding programming through its Emmy® Award, the Television Academy publishes Emmy® Magazine and stages many industry-related programs, services and year-round events for the television community.
For additional press information and resources concerning the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, please direct your inquiries to Robin Mesger of The Lippin Group at (323) 965-1990.

*   *   *

Contacts