The Television Academy announced Thursday it has created its first new major award in nearly 20 years, to honor television programs that have had a “profound and lasting impact” and remain relevant to society, culture and the industry.
The honor, known as the Legacy Award, may be presented during the Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies, the Emmy telecast, Televerse or the Hall of Fame ceremony, according to the Academy.
“The Legacy Award celebrates groundbreaking programming — programs that have stood the test of time, delivering stories that continue to engage audiences and featuring iconic and timeless characters with multigenerational appeal,” Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego said in a statement.
“The award allows the Academy to honor more of television’s rich history and acknowledge the storytellers whose work has resonated with viewers and continues to entertain legions of fans around the globe.”
The Academy last introduced an award of similar significance in 2007 with the Television Academy Honors Award, which recognizes programming that drives positive social change.
Candidates for the Legacy Award will be selected annually by the Governors Award committee, which will be renamed the Special Awards Committee, and submitted to the Board of Governors for a vote, officials said.
As with the Governors Award, recipients of the Legacy Award will receive engraved Emmy statuettes.
To be eligible, programs must have aired at least 60 episodes across a minimum of five seasons and must demonstrate continued or sustained relevance, influence or inspiration to a genre of television, to audiences, and to society and culture, according to the Academy.
A program may receive the award only once.