Emmys 2024: Date Change & Shorter Eligibility Window Boost Viewership on Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
The 75th Emmys is set to make several significant changes to its usual schedule. The award ceremony, which was originally scheduled for September 18, 2024, has been postponed to January 15, 2024, due to ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The organizers, Fox and the TV Academy, are hopeful that the strikes will be resolved by next year. The ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater in LA and will be produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment.
In addition to the date change, the Emmys will also have a shorter eligibility window, from June 2022 to May 2023. This change is intended to align the awards with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the United States, which is expected to boost viewership. The Emmys have chosen this date strategically, as it falls on the same day as the national holiday, increasing the likelihood of more people tuning in to watch the prestigious event.
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which celebrate outstanding artistic and technical achievements in television, will take place on January 7. However, this date clashes with the Golden Globe Awards, which were already scheduled for the same day. It is unusual for television networks to overlap productions to avoid audience fatigue and ensure maximum viewership. As a result of this scheduling conflict, the Emmys will have a shortened eligibility window, which might impact the number of entries and overall viewership.
Despite these logistical challenges, the date change to coincide with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday offers an opportunity for the Emmys to attract a larger audience. The Golden Globes previously premiered on the MLK Jr. holiday for several years before moving to Sundays. Furthermore, the new date marks the first time the Emmys have made a change since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
As for the nominations, HBO’s Succession, Apple TV’s Ted Lasso, Hulu’s The White Lotus, HBO’s The Last of Us, and Netflix’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story lead the pack with the most nominations. Succession has received nominations for lead actress Sarah Snook and lead actors Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, and Jeremy Strong. Notably, The Last of Us has made history as the first video game television adaptation to receive recognition at the Emmys.
The rescheduled 75th Emmys promises to be an exciting event, with the date change and shorter eligibility window creating anticipation and potential for increased viewership. The organizers are eager to deliver a scripted ceremony, avoiding the chaos that unfolded during the unscripted 2023 76th Tony Awards. While some logistical challenges remain, the decision to align the event with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday provides an opportunity to capture a broader audience and celebrate the best of television.
