The Television Academy has confirmed 2019 rules changes for the 71st Primetime Emmy® Awards competition that include new and restructured awards categories. The 71st Emmy Awards are scheduled to air Sunday, September 22, 2019, live on FOX (8:00 - 11:00 PM ET / 5:00 – 8:00 PM PT) from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. The Creative Arts Emmys will be presented at the same location on Saturday, September 14, and Sunday, September 15.
 
New Category: Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Underscore)
The Academy has approved the addition of a new category, Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special, recognizing the unique creative process and evaluation criteria for documentary scoring, versus scoring for scripted series or specials.
 
Restructured Choreography Categories
There will be two separate juried awards:
  • Outstanding Choreography for Variety and Reality Programming (Variety Series, Variety Special, Structured Reality, Unstructured Reality and Competition Program)
  • Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming (Comedy Series, Drama Series, Limited Series and Television Movie)
 
Defined Minimum Run Time for Television Movie
The Academy has set a minimum running time of 75 minutes for a Television Movie.
 
Nomination Tracks for the following Sound Mixing Categories
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special: Entries in this category will be recognized in two genres, variety series and variety specials. The number of nominees will be proportional to the number of submissions in each genre, with at least one nomination for each.
 
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program: Entries in this category will be recognized in two genres, documentary/nonfiction programs and reality programs. The number of nominees will be proportional to the number of submissions in each genre, with at least one nomination for each.
 
New Voting Eligibility for Music Supervisors Music Supervisors will now vote in all music categories (previously Music Supervisors only voted for Outstanding Music Supervision).
 
Short Form Vetting Procedure
The Academy will adopt a new vetting procedure to identify Emmy-competitive entries in the Short Form categories on nomination-round ballots.
 
Panelists, randomly selected from a member pool, will evaluate these entries.
 
Panel vetting for placement on the nomination-round ballot will apply to Short Form categories including:
  • Outstanding Short Form Drama or Comedy Series
  • Outstanding Short Form Variety Program
  • Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series
  • Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Drama or Comedy Series
  • Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Drama or Comedy Series
 
New Voting Eligibility for Music Supervisors
Music Supervisors will now vote in all music categories (previously Music Supervisors only voted for Outstanding Music Supervision).

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