Cable Networks Win 39 Primetime Emmy Awards
Washington, DC – Increased investments in cable programming have not only garnered increased viewership and critical acclaim, but industry recognition as well, with 10 cable networks taking home a total of 39 Primetime Emmy awards from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) in Los Angeles.
Awards were garnered during last night’s Emmy telecast, as well as during a non-televised ceremony on September 13 for creative arts categories. Cable network Home Box Office (HBO) dominated the awards, taking home a total of 18 Emmys. In addition, two cable networks and a cable operator received special awards from the Academy.
“The recognition that cable networks have received through the Emmy Awards are another barometer of cable’s success and its commitment to customers,” said Robert Sachs, President & CEO, National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). “The Emmy wins show that cable’s significant investment in the development of original programming isn’t just attracting viewers, but is drawing critical acclaim with a powerful combination of choice and quality.”
Network programming expenditures by both ad-supported and premium networks totaled $10.8 billion in 2002, a 19.66% increase over the previous year, according to data from Kagan World Media. That investment has produced increased viewership of cable services.
According to analysis of Nielsen data by the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau, from January to July, 2003, U.S. cable homes spent an average of 34.73 hours per week tuned into ad-supported cable networks. Last year, U.S. cable households spent 31.75 hours per week on basic cable. Viewership of ad-supported basic cable programming now regularly surpasses viewership of broadcast network programming in total day and primetime viewing.
In this year’s Emmy competition, HBO topped all other networks with 18 awards; TNT collected six; Comedy Central took home three; A&E, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, SCI FI, and USA each won two; and Bravo and Showtime each received one. Nominees and winners for Emmys were chosen from programming that aired during the period of June 1, 2002 through May 31, 2003.
Some highlights include:
- TNT’s biopic Door to Door won in the category of Outstanding Made For Television Movie and its star, William H. Macy, won for Best Actor, Miniseries or Movie.
- Stars from HBO’s The Sopranos won a number of key acting awards, including James Gandolfini for Best Actor, Drama Series; Edie Falco for Best Actress, Drama Series; and Joe Pantoliano for Best Supporting Actor, Drama Series.
- Tony Shalhoub won Best Actor, Comedy Series for USA's Monk.
- SCI FI won Best Miniseries for Steven Spielberg Presents TAKEN.
- 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.
Lifetime Television received the Academy’s 2003 Governors Awards for the “Our Lifetime Commitment: Stop Violence Against Women” initiative, which was dedicated to raising awareness of domestic abuse and sexual assault. iN DEMAND and NASCAR Digital Entertainment earned an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Television for NASCAR IN CAR, a multichannel program that allows viewers to control seven feeds from in-car cameras for every NASCAR Winston Cup Series race. Cablevision Systems also won an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Television for their iO: Interactive Optimum digital cable service.
NCTA is the principal trade association of the cable television industry in the United States. NCTA represents cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks, as well as equipment suppliers and providers of other services to the cable industry.