Non-English Language US Primetime Program

Rules & Regulations - U.S. Programs

The Emmy® Award recognizes excellence in television, and honors the special skills and unique talents of the companies and individuals who create, produce, and perform in television programs worldwide. The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences conducts competitions in several distinctive areas: News categories (Presented in September/October in NY), Program and Performance categories (presented in November in NY), and Kids categories (presented at Miptv in April in Cannes, France). For further information regarding the competition and events, please visit www.iemmys.tv.

Rules & Regulations below pertain to submissions produced in the U.S. and/or that aired originally in the U.S. (see Section I - Eligibility). For programs produced and aired originally outside the U.S. please visit www.iemmys.tv/entries-judging/rules-regulations/rules-regulations-international-programs/ for the appropriate Rules & Regulations. The Academy reserves the right to change or amend these Rules & Regulations at any time, without notice.


SECTION I – ELIGIBILITY
Please read this section carefully to determine if your program(s) is/are eligible for submission.

SECTION II – CATEGORY DEFINITION
This section defines the International Emmy® Awards category for this competition.

SECTION III – REQUIRED MATERIALS FOR SUBMISSION
This section lists all of the items required for submission. No submission will be considered an entry unless it is complete.

SECTION IV – SCREENING PROCESS AND CONFIRMATION OF ENTRY
This section details the procedure by which a submission is accepted as an entry into the competition.

SECTION V – JUDGING PROCEDURES
This section details the judging stages and the criteria by which the jurors score the entries.

SECTION VI – RECEIVING A NOMINATION
This section details the responsibilities and requirements of all nominated entries and lists the dates of the International Emmy® World Television Festival, and the International Emmy® Awards Gala.

SECTION VII – WINNING THE INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARD
This section details statue and winner certificate allotment.

SECTION VIII – ENTRY FORM
This section provides a link to the online form to be completed in order to submit a program into the competition.

For clarification of the Rules & Regulations, please contact the Awards Department of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences by email at awardsdept@iemmys.tv.


Section I – Eligibility

Program Entries

a. The submission must:

  • Have been originally created for television (including by way of example so-called basic cable, pay cable, pay television, pay-per-view, interactive cable, and broadband).
  • Either be a U.S. production, OR have initially been broadcast within the U.S. between the dates of January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 (please see details in Section II. a. General Categories Policies).
    • Non-U.S. programs with a simultaneous broadcast within the U.S. may choose to enter into this category or the appropriate category from the general International Emmy® Awards competition, but cannot enter both.
  • Comply with the category requirements described in Section II – Category Definition.
  • Not have been submitted in any other Emmy® competition.
  • Not have had a theatrical release, within or outside of the U.S., before the first television broadcast.

b. Any organization or individual (i.e. a network, a local or regional television station, producer, director, or writer) may submit a program.

  • Only copyright owners have the right to determine which of their programs will be submitted into the competition. No person including members of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, or any company, or institution may determine or regulate which submission may be entered by a rightful program owner.
  • Organizations or individuals who do not hold copyright ownership of a program must obtain consent from the rights owner before presenting a submission.
  • Any submission that lists, in its official credits, more than one production company, is considered to be a co-production and may be submitted.
  • All production companies, including the entrant company if applicable, must be credited on the entry form, and notified. The Academy will not verify this information prior to a nomination and assumes no responsibility for incorrect or omitted information.
  • The entering organization assumes full responsibility for notifying the other production partners of the submission.
  • In the event an eligible program is submitted by more than one entrant, it is up to the entrants to decide which submission should be used. Duplicate submissions will not be refunded.
  • In the event of a protest by any of the co-production companies, the submission will be declared ineligible. Submissions will not be refunded.

c. Entry Deadline:

  • All submissions must be received by Thursday, February 20, 2020, at 12:00 noon EST.
  • The Academy reserves the right to approve or deny an extension request, as well as determine its length if granted. Any submission presented after the deadline will be subject to an additional fee of US$50 per submission.

Section II – Category Definition

a. General Category Policies:

  • Eligible programs may only be submitted into this program category.
  • Programs must have been originally aired in any primetime period (6:00 PM- 2:00 AM).
  • Programs are eligible for nomination if they were originally aired or originally transmitted by broadcast to at least 50% of the total potential U.S. television audience or by pay/basic cable transmissions (including by way of example so-called basic cable, pay cable, pay television, pay-per-view, interactive cable and broadband) to markets representing at least 50% or more of households in the United States.
  • The program should fit the minimum format length of a televised half-hour time slot. 2/7
  • Performers from any submitted fiction program are eligible into the Best Performances categories of the International Emmy® Awards. (please see Rules & Regulations for Performance categories at www.iemmys.tv/awards_entry.aspx.
  • Materials submitted to the International Emmy® Awards competition will not be returned.
  • Each submission must be a straight run without internal editing of program content (commercials must be removed).
  • Hanging Episodes:
    • If the program is a series that runs partly outside the eligibility dates, its year of eligibility depends on when the majority of episodes aired. For example, if the series consists of 6 episodes, and 4 episodes aired within the eligible year, then this season of the series is eligible in the current year. If only 2 episodes aired within the eligible year, then this season of the series is not eligible in the current year.
    • In the case that the same number of episodes aired within and outside of the eligible year, then the season will be considered eligible in either year it aired; however, no season may be submitted twice. Also, at least one (1) of the episodes must have aired before December 31st of the current eligible year, and both episodes must have aired before the submission deadline.
    • The information provided on the entry form must be accurate by the submission deadline. The Academy must be informed should any program be extended beyond that deadline.

b. Category Definition.

  • Non-English Language U.S. Primetime Program: Any primetime program produced by a U.S. company, or originally aired in the U.S., in a language that is substantially (i.e. 50% or more) other than English, with scripted (e.g. Drama Series, Sitcom, Telenovela, etc.) or unscripted dialogue (e.g. reality show, variety show, game show, awards show, etc.).
    • For Unscripted programs, please submit only one (1) episode representative of the series.
    • For Scripted programs, please submit two (2) complete, unedited episodes (as telecast).
  • Episodes submitted must be non-consecutive (e.g. episodes 1 & 3, not episodes 1 & 2), unless the program is a two-part Mini-Series.
  • If the program aired over two different years, please refer to the “Hanging Episodes” rule, Section II a.

Section III - Required Materials For Submission

a. The completed online entry form.

  • A link to the entry form is available in Section VIII – Entry Form.
  • Correct entry information is the responsibility of the entering organization. The Academy is not liable for incorrect listings that are the result of incorrect information on entry forms. Entry information will be shared with partners/designees of the International Emmy® Awards.
  • The entering organization assumes full responsibility for notifying the other co- producing partners of the submission.

b. English Subtitling (For All Submissions):

  • Programs may be submitted in any language; however, ALL programs must be
    subtitled in English, including dialogue originally produced in English (if
    applicable).
  • Submissions without subtitling in English will be disqualified.
  • Subtitles must be embedded in the video, and not be sent as a separate file.
  • Subtitles must be large enough to be readable on smaller screens.

c. The video must:

  • Be submitted without onscreen visible time code or promo reels.
  • Contain only the footage and episodes to be considered for the competition. Please do not send a compilation of episodes from an entire season, or trailers.
  • Be submitted as they were initially broadcast without the content (graphics or scenes) re-edited.
  • Not have commercials, promotional spots, trailers and/or company logos, so that the jurors can view the program without interruption or distraction. Edit Gaps should not be over 5 seconds. Watermarks are tolerated if they appear on a small corner of the screen, and must be approved beforehand by the Academy.
  • Be uploaded at http://upload.iemmys.tv following the technical specifications provided below (other formats will be rejected automatically):
    • Video
      Codec: H.264/AVC video, 1800Kbps
      1280x720 frame size
      Decomb or Deinterlace
      English subtitles burnt into picture
    • Audio
      AAC audio 160Kbps
    • Container
      MP4 container (.mp4 file)
      2 Mbps total bitrate (2000Kbps)
      Web Optimized (moov atom at beginning of file)
  • Be kept as a Quicktime ProRes file. In the event your program is nominated, the Academy will require the high-resolution version of the video(s) submitted (with subtitles).

d. If you are unable to upload a digital file, you may contact the Awards Department at awardsdept@iemmys.tv for further options. A US$65 fee will be charged for digitalization of any file by the Academy.

e. Entrants must not use the Emmy® image or Academy logo anywhere on the program submission (i.e. program title cards, entry title cards, marketing materials, packaging, etc.).

f. The Submission Fee payment:

    • US$400 per submission.
    • If an extension is granted, any submission presented after the deadline will be subject to an additional fee of US$50 per submission.
    • Submissions are non-refundable.
    • Payments are only accepted online. Should you be unable to use a credit card, our accounting department will review the situation for alternative modes of payment.

g. No submission will be considered an entry unless it is complete. If the Awards Department does not receive any response to requests for additional information and/or materials, the submission may be considered ineligible, and the submission fee will be forfeited.


Section IV - Screening Process And Confirmation Of Entry

a. All entries are pre-screened to ensure that eligibility requirements are met and that the technical quality is satisfactory.

b. The Academy reserves the right to not accept any program deemed unsuitable. The ruling of the Academy is final.

c. All entrants will receive confirmation by email when their submission has been officially entered into the competition. The confirmation email should not be expected before the end of June.


Section V – Judging Procedures

a. Each entry into the International Emmy® Awards competition undergoes up to two (2) rounds of judging:

  • The First round of judging will take place between April and June under the direct supervision of the Judging Department. First round jurors will view entries and vote online. After the Official Ballots are received by the Academy’s official tabulation firm Ernst & Young, the four (4) programs with the highest scores become nominees and proceed to the Final round of judging.
  • The Final round of judging will be held in October. Programs to be judged in the final round of judging are sent, online, to individuals chosen under the direct supervision of the Judging Department. The completed Official Ballots are collected by Ernst & Young where they are checked for authenticity and tabulated. The winner is the top ranking program from among the nominees and is not revealed until the awards ceremony.

b. All entries are judged by experienced television professionals.

  • All jurors are required to sign a non-disclosure and non-distribution agreement prior to viewing any entered program.

c. In the First round of judging, jurors are asked to rate each entry on its own merits (not comparatively) by a point scoring system based on two criteria: concept and execution. In the Final round of judging, jurors judge the nominees in direct competition with one another and rank them.


Section VI – Receiving A Nomination

a. The 48th International Emmy® Awards

  • Nominee announcement: TBD.
  • Upon announcement, each nominated entry will be required to provide the Academy with additional materials, the list of which will be sent by email.
  • Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Monday, November 23, 2020 in New York.

b. Nominated entries will be available for screening at the International Emmy® World Television Festival, organized by the Academy the weekend before the International Emmy® Awards, as well as on a Members-Only VOD player (streaming only) accessible through the Academy’s website.

c. Trailers of nominated entries may be used in any television broadcast, webcast, or exhibition produced for or by the Academy in connection with the International Emmy® World Television Festival and/or the International Emmy® Awards Gala, including, but not limited to, any internet exhibition in connection with announcements or activities.

d. Excerpts of a maximum of twenty (20) minutes of each nominated entry may be used in any television broadcast, webcast, or exhibition produced for or by the Academy in connection with the International Emmy® World Television Festival and/or the International Emmy® Awards Gala, including but not limited to any internet exhibition in connection with announcements or activities in connection with the above mentioned events.

e. The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences reserves the right to screen any nominated submission in its entirety at International Emmy® educational or promotional initiatives and/or events worldwide.

f. Copies (ProRes files) of each nominated entry may be entered into any television archives the Academy would see fit, to become part of its permanent collection. Winners may be exhibited during weeklong screening festivals.

g. Any nominated program and/or its title, logo, trademark, extracts and other intangible rights and promotional items related to the program may be used in any television broadcast, webcast, or video promotion produced by the Academy and/or its partners/designees in connection with the International Emmy® Awards in any current or future years’ competitions.

h. Two (2) official representatives of a nominated program will be designated by the official entrant to receive the nominee certificates and medals at the nominee medal ceremony.

  • The entrant understands that if nominated, its official representatives will come on stage and be acknowledged as representatives of the nominated or winning program.
  • At least one (1) of the official nominee representatives must have a producer credit on the program.
  • The entrant and official representatives acknowledge that the Awards show will be directly or indirectly recorded and reproduced. The entrant therefore expressly authorizes the Academy to use its name and likeness and if necessary that of its representative(s) present during the corresponding ceremony, as well as images of the entered program(s), and authorizes any audio visual reproductions of the ceremony made by the Academy and/or any of its partners/designees used in connection with the promotion and notoriety of the International Emmy® Awards. It is understood that the capture, reproduction, and dissemination of said Awards will be done by any means and any format whatsoever known or unknown to date including, without limitation, print, electronic, internet (being specified that the Academy and/or any of its partners/designees will not be held liable for any uses that may be made by web surfers of the clips appearing on the Academy’s websites and/or any of its partners/designees’ websites).

i. Attendance:

  • The entrant agrees to undertake all financial responsibility to ensure the nominated program is represented at all events of the 48th International Emmy® Awards: The International Emmy® World Television Festival on Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22, 2020, and the 48th International Emmy® Awards Gala on Monday, November 23, 2020 in New York.
  • Two (2) official representative nominees will be designated by the entrant to each receive a nominee certificate and medal. At least one of the representative nominees must have a producer credit.
    • Additional nominee certificates and medals may be purchased through the Awards Department, subject to approval by the Academy.

j. The International Emmy® World Television Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22, 2020 in New York.

k. The 48th International Emmy® Awards Gala will be held on Monday, November 23, 2020 in New York.


Section VII – Winning The International Emmy® Award

a. Only one (1) International Emmy® Statue will be presented at the 48th International Emmy® Awards Gala per winning program.

b. For winning programs:

  • The representative nominees will be presented on-stage with the award.
  • Duplicate statues may be requested through the Awards Department by completing a Statue Request Form (document will be sent following the win).
    • A maximum of four (4) duplicate statues may be purchased.
    • All statue requests are subject to approval by the Academy.
    • Additional statues are only accepted for producers whose screen credit is “Executive Producer,” “Co-Executive Producer,” “Supervising Producer,” “Producer,” or “Produced by.”
    • Statue engravings will include the title of the program and the co-producing organizations only. Individual names will not be included.
    • Only one (1) statue may be purchased by each co-producing company for general office display.

c. Winner Certificates may be requested through the Awards Department by completing the Winner Certificate Request Form.

  • Requests must be received by the Academy from the Entrant of the program.
  • Winner certificates may be requested for any of the co-production companies.
  • There is no limit to the number of winner certificates that may be purchased.

d. Any reference to an International Emmy® Award win must follow the International Academy guidelines which will be communicated to winners.


Rules For The Protection Of The Emmy® Statuette

a. The Emmy® statuette is the property of and all rights are reserved by the Television Academy.

b. The Emmy® statuette may not be reproduced or used in any commercial manner unless otherwise permitted by the Academy, it being understood that possession of the same is solely for the benefit of the recipient and the recipient’s heirs or successors in interest.

c. If a recipient or the recipient’s heir or successor in interest proposes to sell or otherwise dispose of the Emmy® statuette, such persons shall be obligated to return the statuette to the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences which will retain the same in storage in memory of the recipient.


Section VIII – Entry Form

Please click here to access the Entry Form

By completing the entry form, you confirm that you have read and understood the Rules & Regulations of the International Emmy® Awards.