Limited options for Emmys to draw TV viewers

August 14th, 2009 - 6:44 pm ICT by IBNS  

Aug 14 (IBNS) After being forced to abandon its plan to truncate the presentation of some awards during the Emmys, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is struggling to increase the viewership of the next month’s award presentation.

“This decision was made to mend relationships within the television community. Our goal is to celebrate the year in television, honor excellence and this year’s great achievements with the support of our industry colleagues and our telecast partner, CBS,” television academy Chief Executive John Shaffner was quoted as saying by La Times.

It was a victory for the unions and cable networks like HBO, which had the most nominations which would have been not telecast live if the event would have been pre-taped.

But the decision could also rob the producers of an effective tool that could have boosted the ratings of the Emmys, which last year was dominated by niche cable shows with small followings.

Last years just 12.3 million viewers, one of the smallest Emmy audiences in two decades, tuned in to ABC, last year’s production, and the show was gaggled with reality show hosts. A record-low number of 18-to-49-year-olds watched.

The Emmys isn’t the only awards program, which has seen a decline in viewership and has sought to energize and widen its appeal with new schemes and tactics.

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