History of Emmy Awards in Timeline
The Emmy Awards celebrate artistic and technical achievements in the television industry. Several annual ceremonies are held, each focusing on different segments. The Primetime and Daytime Emmy Awards are the most publicized, honoring outstanding primetime and daytime entertainment, respectively. Other Emmy events recognize children's and family programming, sports, news/documentaries, and technological advancements. Regional Emmys acknowledge local television excellence, while the International Emmy Awards celebrate TV programming produced outside the United States. The Emmys represent a comprehensive system of accolades for television excellence across various genres and geographic areas.
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1948: Emmy statuette design finalized
In 1948, the ATAS settled on Louis McManus's design of the Emmy statuette, depicting a winged woman holding an atom. 47 proposals were rejected before settling on this design.
January 25, 1949: First Emmy ceremony
On January 25, 1949, the first Emmy ceremony took place at the Hollywood Athletic Club to honor shows produced and aired locally in the Los Angeles area. Shirley Dinsdale received the first Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality.
1949: ATAS first awarded Emmys
In 1949, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) first awarded Emmys to honor shows produced in the Los Angeles area, before it became a national event in the 1950s.
1955: Formation of NATAS
In 1955, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) was formed in New York City as a sister organization to ATAS. NATAS established regional chapters throughout the rest of the United States, with each one developing their own local Emmy ceremony for local programming.
1972: First daytime-themed Emmy Awards
In 1972, the first daytime-themed Emmy Awards were given out at the primetime ceremony.
1973: First International Emmy Awards
Since 1973, the International Emmy Awards have been presented annually by the IATAS to recognize excellence in TV programming that is produced initially outside the United States.
1974: First Daytime Emmy ceremony
In 1974, the first Daytime Emmy ceremony was held to specifically honor achievement in national daytime programming. Also, the International Emmy Awards, honoring television programs produced and initially aired outside the U.S., was established in the early 1970s.
1974: First separate Daytime Emmy Awards show
In 1974, the first separate awards show made just for daytime programming was held.
1977: ATAS and NATAS break ties
In 1977, due to various conflicts, the ATAS and the NATAS broke ties. They agreed to share ownership of the Emmy statue and trademark, with each responsible for administering a specific set of award events.
1988: Cable programs eligible for Primetime Emmys
In 1988, cable programs first became eligible for the Primetime Emmys.
1989: Cable programs eligible for Daytime Emmys
In 1989, cable programs first became eligible for the Daytime Emmys.
2011: ABC cancels soap operas
In 2011, ABC cancelled the soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live, and sold the two shows' licensing rights to the production company Prospect Park.
2012: Grammy Awards went gender-neutral
In 2012, the Grammy Awards went gender-neutral.
2013: New Daytime Emmys category created
In 2013, NATAS created a new Daytime Emmys category to honor web-only series, and the ATAS also began accepting original online-only streaming television programs.
2016: AMPAS switches to Polich Tallix
In 2016, AMPAS switched to Polich Tallix in Walden, New York to manufacture the Academy Award statues.
2018: The Emmy Award considered most prestigious award
In 2018, Donn Johnson, president of the Pacific Southwest chapter said: "The Emmy Award is considered the most prestigious award a television professional can receive".
2019: Daytime Emmy Awards introduced a single Outstanding Younger Performer category
In 2019, the Daytime Emmy Awards introduced a single Outstanding Younger Performer in a Drama Series category to replace their two gender-specific younger actor and actress categories.
2020: ATAS retires primetime children's television categories
In 2020, the ATAS retired its primetime children's television categories, agreeing with the NATAS to move all such award categories to the Daytime Emmys.
November 2021: NATAS announced the creation of Children's & Family Emmys
In November 2021, the NATAS previously announced the newly created Children's & Family Emmys.
November 17, 2021: NATAS announces Children's & Family Emmys Awards
On November 17, 2021, the NATAS announced that it would begin to present the Children's & Family Emmys Awards beginning in 2022, for excellence in children's and family television.
December 2021: ATAS and NATAS announce Emmy Award ceremonies realignment
In December 2021, the ATAS and the NATAS announced a major realignment of the national Emmy Award ceremonies in response to the growth of streaming television programs, each of the ceremonies' scopes would now revolve around factors such as the themes and frequency of such programming, rather than dayparts.
2022: Inaugural Children's & Family Emmys Awards
In 2022, the inaugural Children's & Family Emmys Awards were presented.
2023: Realignment of game shows and instructional programming categories determined
In 2023, the realignment of game shows and instructional programming categories for the Emmy awards was determined.
2025: Daytime Emmy Awards move to October
In 2025, the Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony was moved to October.
2025: News & Documentary Emmy Awards move to June
In 2025, the News & Documentary Emmy Awards ceremony was moved to June.
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