Primetime Emmy Awards

The Primetime Emmy® Awards salute excellence in national primetime programming, presenting top honors annually at both the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Engineering Emmy Awards ceremonies, as well as the Primetime Emmys telecast.

A number of special awards, like the Governors Award and Bob Hope Humanitarian Award (more on those below), may be bestowed during these ceremonies as well.

The first Emmy® Awards ceremony was held on January 25, 1949, at the Hollywood Athletic Club, and was devoted solely to programming that originated from Los Angeles, where the Television Academy was founded. Over time, the Emmys expanded to include programming aired throughout the United States.

Today, the Primetime Emmy® is a symbol of peer recognition from over 16,000 Television Academy members. Members from more than two-dozen peer groups vote for the category of competition in their field of expertise.

2013 Primetime Emmys Entry Submission Information

Get 2013 submissions deadlines, eligibility rules and more industry information here:

65th Primetime Emmy Awards Industry Calendar

Creative Arts Emmy Awards

The Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, traditionally held the weekend before the live Primetime Emmys telecast, are largely dedicated to key technical disciplines and behind-the-scenes crafts essential to television production: art direction, cinematography, hairstyling, makeup, music, picture editing, sound editing and mixing, special visual effects, stunts and more.

Awards are also handed out for animation, commercials, reality series and other programming, as well as some acting categories and special honors.

Special Primetime Emmys Honors

In addition to the many categories of Primetime Emmy Awards presented to programs and individuals for production and performance excellence, some very prestigious special honors, such as the Governors Award, are bestowed during the Primetime Emmys.

The Governors Award

The Television Academy Board of Governors bestows its esteemed Governors Award upon individuals, companies or organizations who have made a substantial impact and demonstrated the extraordinary use of television.

The Board's recognized Governors Award recipient The It Gets Better Project with an award during the 2012 Creative Arts Emmy® Awards gala.

The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award

The Television Academy Board of Governors established the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in 2002, as a tribute to the the iconic career and life of Bob Hope. This high honor is a nod to the Hope's more than fifty years of pioneering contributions to the radio and television industries, both as family mediums and as platforms for sociopolitical commentary.

The special Hope Humanitarian honor is not bound to be given annually with the traditional categories of Emmys, only as deemed fitting and approved by the Hope Humanitarian Award selection committee (composed of Academy members) and a representative of the Bob and Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation. Since its establishment, four honorees — Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby, Danny Thomas (presented posthumously, accepted by his daughter, actress Marlo Thomas) and George Clooney — have received the Hope Award.

The Syd Cassyd Founders Award

The Syd Cassyd Founders Award — named in honor of the Television Academy’s founder — was created to recognize members who have made a significant positive impact on the Academy through their efforts and service over many years of involvement.

Like the Hope Award, the Syd Cassyd Founders Award is not bound to be given annually with the traditional categories of Emmys. The Cassyd honor was bestowed in 2012 to former Television Academy Chairman Dick Askin.

Engineering Emmy Awards

The Engineering Emmy Awards are overseen by the Television Academy’s Engineering Committee, and are given to an individual, company or organization for developments in engineering that are either so extensive an improvement on existing methods, or so innovative in nature, that they materially affect the transmission, recording or reception of television.

The Television Academy’s Engineering Awards Committee is chaired by Wendy Aylsworth, Senior Vice President of Technology for Warner Bros, and award recipients are selected by a jury of television engineers. This jury considers all engineering developments which have proven their efficacy during the awards year and determines which, if any, merit recognition with an Engineering Emmy statuette, plaque or certificate. Below is a description of the awards categories.

The Philo T. Farnsworth Award

The Philo T. Farnsworth Award honors an agency, company or institution whose contributions over time have significantly impacted television technology and engineering.

The Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award

The Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award honors a living individual whose on-going contributions have significantly affected the state of television technology and engineering.

Engineering Emmys

Presented to an individual, company or organization for engineering developments so significant an improvement on existing methods or so innovative in nature that they materially affect the transmission, recording or reception of television.

Engineering Plaque

The Engineering Plaque honors achievements that exhibit a high level of engineering and are important to the progress of the industry. The Engineering Plaque is not a consolation prize, but a positive recognition of engineering achievements on a different level of technology and industry importance than the Emmy statuette.

Engineering Certificate

The Engineering Certificate honors those accomplishments which demonstrate a high level of engineering and are important to the progress of the industry.

See the 64th Engineering Emmy Awards recipients here. Plus Watch highlights from the 2012 ceremony, featuring special guest host, actress Olivia Munn.

Primetime Emmys Information for Past Seasons

Visit the official Primetime Emmy Awards Nominees & Winners Database at Emmys.com for most complete awards information.