The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Interactive Media Peer Group (IMPG) has announced that the deadline for entries for the Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media is April 24th.
This year, for the first time, Interactive Media finalists will receive full-fledged nominee status. "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," Interactive Media Peer Group co-governor, Geoff Katz, explained in a statement emailed to [itvt]. "In the past, many truly outstanding entries went unrecognized due to the nature of these awards' designation, so we consider this change a reflection of the progressive tone that's been adopted by Television Academy leadership." Added IMPG co-governor, Marcelino Ford-Livene: "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."
Another new development this year is that the entry process is now an online procedure at http://www.emmys.tv/interactive.
This year's Interactive Media Emmy Awards honor interactive programs or series that were commercially deployed between June 1st, 2008 and May 31st, 2009, and that demonstrate creative excellence in interactive media. While the deadline for submitting an online entry form is April 24th, the video submission deadline is May 12th.
The awards will recognize excellence in two areas of competition:1) Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media: Fiction.
According to the Television Academy, this award will recognize "outstanding fiction-based interactive programs or series presenting opportunities for audience engagement" and offering "content beyond passive, linear television viewing." Eligible entries might include "programming that provides access to additional information, extends plots or characters into interactive, cross-media environments, or contains elements facilitating individual or community participation," the Academy says. There will be three nominees in this category.
2) Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media: Non-Fiction.
According to the Academy, this award will recognize "overall creative excellence in the interactive media components of nonfiction-based programs or series"; and entries will be judged "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." Entriesin this category could 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," the Academy says. Again, there will be three nominees in this category.
Entries in both categories will be judged by a blue ribbon panel of prominent figures in the Interactive Media Peer Group. More information can be found at http://www.emmys.tv/interactive.
The awards process is overseen by the IMPG's Primetime Emmy Awards Working Group. The latter's members, for 2008-9, include: Damon Berger, Moderati; Eric Breitbard, Schematic; Richard Cardran, independent 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.
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