Cable Networks Lead 56th Annual Primetime Emmys

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an affirmation of cable's increasing creative clout in the television environment, 11 cable networks collectively garnered a record 50 Primetime Emmy awards yesterday from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), surpassing for the first time broadcast networks, which earned 37 awards.

Awards were collected during last night's Emmy telecast from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, as well as during a non-televised ceremony on September 12 for creative arts categories. Cable network Home Box Office (HBO) dominated the awards, taking home a total of 32 Emmys, more than any other network. Fox followed HBO with 10.

“This year's Emmys provide more concrete evidence that cable has become the leader in innovative and creative television programming,” said Jill Luckett, Vice President, Program Network Policy, National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). “Cable's significant investment in the development of original programming isn't just winning the competitive battle for viewers, but is also drawing critical acclaim for cable's offerings.”

Network programming expenditures by both ad-supported and premium cable networks totaled $12.6 billion in 2003, a 16.6 percent increase over the previous year, according to data from Kagan World Media. That investment has resulted in increased viewership of cable services.

According to an analysis of Nielsen data by the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau, more than half of all primetime television viewers watched ad-supported cable networks during the official 2003/2004 TV season (September – May), the first time that cable topped all national broadcast networks combined during this period. In addition, cable households tuned in on a weekly basis to more than 35 hours of ad-supported cable programming versus an average of 24 hours per week for all commercial broadcast programming combined.

In this year's Emmy competition, HBO topped all other networks with 32 awards; A&E Network collected four; Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Showtime, and USA Network each won two; and Bravo, FX, Lifetime, and Nickelodeon each received one. Nominees and winners for Emmys were chosen from programming that aired during the period of June 1, 2003 through May 31, 2004.

Some highlights include:

  • HBO's Angels in America was the big winner, with 11 awards in various categories, including Outstanding Miniseries. It is tied for most-honored program with ABC's 1976 made-for-television movie Eleanor and Franklin .
  • HBO's The Sopranos won Best Drama Series, after being nominated three times previously and Best Writing For A Drama Series, in addition to earning several key acting awards, including Michael Imperioli for Best Supporting Actor, Drama Series; and Drea de Matteo for Best Supporting Actress, Drama Series.
  • Discovery Channel won two awards during the Creative Arts Primetime Emmys for the series Dinosaur Planet .
  • Comedy Central's The Daily Show With Jon Stewart was recognized for both Best Variety, Music or Comedy Series and Best Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program.

Additionally, during the 25th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards, presented on September 13, three cable networks collectively won 11 awards. The History Channel won five awards, Cinemax won three, MSNBC won two, and TLC received one. In addition, the National Television Academy honored C-SPAN with special recognition for its “outstanding coverage of the American electoral process.” The ceremony is scheduled to be televised on Discovery Times Channel on September 25.

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