Report: Emmy Awards May Relocate To HBO
11-12-02, 12:00 PM
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Report: Emmy Awards May Relocate To HBO
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/1780814/deta...111122002&ts=H
ATAS, Cable Network Close To Deal
POSTED: 9:42 a.m. EST November 12, 2002
Television viewers may soon have to pay to see their Emmy Awards.
Sources tell the Hollywood Reporter online that cable network HBO is close to reaching a five-year agreement with the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to air the primetime Emmy Awards starting next year.
According to the Reporter ATAS officials and entertainment attorney Ken Ziffren have been negotiating a new Emmy telecast rights deal with the big four broadcast networks for the past six months to extend a current "wheel format" agreement -- where ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX rotate the telecast.
Sources tell the Reporter however, that the networks have not come close to agreeing to ATAS' annual $10 million marketing fee.
HBO, on the other hand, would pay the fee, in addition to $5 million to $6 million in production costs and $1 million to $2 million in marketing and promoting the telecast, said the Reporter.
The Reporter said if HBO snags the telecasts, it may lead to a boycott of the Television Academy and the launch of competing awards shows.
The power of HBO keeps growing and growing!
Chris
ATAS, Cable Network Close To Deal
POSTED: 9:42 a.m. EST November 12, 2002
Television viewers may soon have to pay to see their Emmy Awards.
Sources tell the Hollywood Reporter online that cable network HBO is close to reaching a five-year agreement with the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to air the primetime Emmy Awards starting next year.
According to the Reporter ATAS officials and entertainment attorney Ken Ziffren have been negotiating a new Emmy telecast rights deal with the big four broadcast networks for the past six months to extend a current "wheel format" agreement -- where ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX rotate the telecast.
Sources tell the Reporter however, that the networks have not come close to agreeing to ATAS' annual $10 million marketing fee.
HBO, on the other hand, would pay the fee, in addition to $5 million to $6 million in production costs and $1 million to $2 million in marketing and promoting the telecast, said the Reporter.
The Reporter said if HBO snags the telecasts, it may lead to a boycott of the Television Academy and the launch of competing awards shows.
The power of HBO keeps growing and growing!
Chris
11-12-02, 12:20 PM
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Man, that's pretty amazing. HBO is really making some good decisions. On the other hand, I'd think it would cut the Emmy awards viewership in half.
11-12-02, 12:28 PM
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Well they must be one of the most profitable stations out there. If this happens, it will probably cause alot of people to sign up with them, not just to see the Emmys, but all of their other outstanding original programming, plus their boxing. This will give them instant credibility and exposure to those people who were not previously considering subscribing.
Chris
Chris
11-12-02, 12:38 PM
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Why the hell would HBO clog up their signal, full of award-winning shows, with that boring pageant? They'll accept the awards, but I somehow don't think they'll be interested much in the event itself. 
I think some people over in La-La land are smokin' some extra potent crack this day.
I think some people over in La-La land are smokin' some extra potent crack this day.
11-12-02, 02:39 PM
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The news report I heard this morning said that if HBO did get the Emmy show, they may very well unscramble the broadcast so that anyone with cable could see it. That would be an incredibly smart move for HBO, because then all the "commercials" would be for their programming, and they'd probably pick up a lot of new subscribers.
11-12-02, 02:40 PM
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Originally posted by marty888
The news report I heard this morning said that if HBO did get the Emmy show, they may very well unscramble the broadcast so that anyone with cable could see it. That would be an incredibly smart move for HBO, because then all the "commercials" would be for their programming, and they'd probably pick up a lot of new subscribers.
The news report I heard this morning said that if HBO did get the Emmy show, they may very well unscramble the broadcast so that anyone with cable could see it. That would be an incredibly smart move for HBO, because then all the "commercials" would be for their programming, and they'd probably pick up a lot of new subscribers.
11-13-02, 09:24 PM
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No one is ever going to subscribe to a premium channel for an awards show. HBO gets a ton of free exposure by having their programs routinely trounce network programming on the Emmys on free TV, though.
Airing it unscrambled would be the only way to do it, but it would probably cut into one of their free promo weekends, so in the end it would do little good.
Airing it unscrambled would be the only way to do it, but it would probably cut into one of their free promo weekends, so in the end it would do little good.
11-13-02, 10:07 PM
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It's not like HBO can just 'unscramble' its feed with the flip of a switch. The individual cable providers have to do that; might cause a big headache if one of those providers 'forgets' to do it or screws up.
11-14-02, 10:05 AM
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UPDATE 2-Emmys to stay with big four U.S. TV networks
http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/021114/leisure_emmys_1.html
Reuters
UPDATE 2-Emmys to stay with big four U.S. TV networks
Thursday November 14, 2:49 am ET
By Dean Goodman
(new throughout, updates with new Emmy deal)
LOS ANGELES, Nov 13 (Reuters) - If only Hollywood awards shows were as exciting as the drama behind the scenes.
The organizers of television's Primetime Emmy Awards, who stunned the industry this week by threatening to defect to the HBO cable network, decided on Wednesday to stay with the big four broadcasters, which had raised the specter of a boycott.
In return the networks -- ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox -- will together pay $52 million over eight years for the right to take turns airing the show under a licensing "wheel."
The offer from HBO, home to acclaimed dramas like "The Sopranos" and "Six Feet Under," was higher: $50 million over five years.
The nonprofit Academy of Television Arts & Sciences took less money, but no longer faces the risk of network retaliation or boycotts that could have thrown the future of television's highest honors into doubt.
Its board of governors considered the various scenarios during a late-night meeting. "It was never about the highest offer," said Todd Leavitt, the academy's president and chief operating officer.
Leavitt said HBO was a prestigious outlet with excellent marketing ability, but the big four networks had the advantage of reaching all 106.6 million American homes with TV sets. At best, HBO could reach nearly 85 percent of TV households if it unscrambled its signal so it could be picked up on cable.
HBO officials seemed philosophical about the decision. "While we are certainly disappointed that we didn't get the Emmys, I am glad that the academy finally got some respect from the big wheels in the big wheel," HBO chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht said in a statement.
A SURPRISE OFFER
Under the previous deal, the four networks paid $12 million over four years. After they offered only a 10 percent raise, HBO stepped in with its surprise offer.
Infuriated network executives made noises about pulling their stars from the Emmy ceremony if it went to HBO next September, though industry observers doubted the practicality of telling big stars like Jennifer Aniston or Ray Romano to stay at home.
The network chieftains went into Wednesday's meeting with a new proposal that would reportedly pay the academy between $5 million and $5.5 million annually for four more years.
Under the new deal, the academy will reportedly be paid $5.5 million annually for the first four years, followed by $7.5 million for the remaining four years.
Leavitt said the decision to stay with the big four was "convincingly approved" by the 57 governors and a dozen officials after a boisterous debate, but he declined to detail the margin of victory.
Moving the Emmys to HBO would have marked the first time in more than 50 years the awards were not carried on broadcast television. While the Emmys always do well in the ratings, industry observers consider them the poor cousin to the film industry's Oscars and the music industry's Grammys.
Many programs are nominated year after year, while edgy shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The Simpsons" are left out in the cold. Many Emmy-winning shows rarely see an increase in viewership. Ratings for political soap "The West Wing," the top drama for the past two years, slid this season.
Well it looks like the networks played hardball and won!
Chris
Reuters
UPDATE 2-Emmys to stay with big four U.S. TV networks
Thursday November 14, 2:49 am ET
By Dean Goodman
(new throughout, updates with new Emmy deal)
LOS ANGELES, Nov 13 (Reuters) - If only Hollywood awards shows were as exciting as the drama behind the scenes.
The organizers of television's Primetime Emmy Awards, who stunned the industry this week by threatening to defect to the HBO cable network, decided on Wednesday to stay with the big four broadcasters, which had raised the specter of a boycott.
In return the networks -- ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox -- will together pay $52 million over eight years for the right to take turns airing the show under a licensing "wheel."
The offer from HBO, home to acclaimed dramas like "The Sopranos" and "Six Feet Under," was higher: $50 million over five years.
The nonprofit Academy of Television Arts & Sciences took less money, but no longer faces the risk of network retaliation or boycotts that could have thrown the future of television's highest honors into doubt.
Its board of governors considered the various scenarios during a late-night meeting. "It was never about the highest offer," said Todd Leavitt, the academy's president and chief operating officer.
Leavitt said HBO was a prestigious outlet with excellent marketing ability, but the big four networks had the advantage of reaching all 106.6 million American homes with TV sets. At best, HBO could reach nearly 85 percent of TV households if it unscrambled its signal so it could be picked up on cable.
HBO officials seemed philosophical about the decision. "While we are certainly disappointed that we didn't get the Emmys, I am glad that the academy finally got some respect from the big wheels in the big wheel," HBO chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht said in a statement.
A SURPRISE OFFER
Under the previous deal, the four networks paid $12 million over four years. After they offered only a 10 percent raise, HBO stepped in with its surprise offer.
Infuriated network executives made noises about pulling their stars from the Emmy ceremony if it went to HBO next September, though industry observers doubted the practicality of telling big stars like Jennifer Aniston or Ray Romano to stay at home.
The network chieftains went into Wednesday's meeting with a new proposal that would reportedly pay the academy between $5 million and $5.5 million annually for four more years.
Under the new deal, the academy will reportedly be paid $5.5 million annually for the first four years, followed by $7.5 million for the remaining four years.
Leavitt said the decision to stay with the big four was "convincingly approved" by the 57 governors and a dozen officials after a boisterous debate, but he declined to detail the margin of victory.
Moving the Emmys to HBO would have marked the first time in more than 50 years the awards were not carried on broadcast television. While the Emmys always do well in the ratings, industry observers consider them the poor cousin to the film industry's Oscars and the music industry's Grammys.
Many programs are nominated year after year, while edgy shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The Simpsons" are left out in the cold. Many Emmy-winning shows rarely see an increase in viewership. Ratings for political soap "The West Wing," the top drama for the past two years, slid this season.
Well it looks like the networks played hardball and won!
Chris
