Emmys Nix Time-Shifting Plan

LOS ANGELES: The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is scrapping its plans to pre-tape eight presentations and acceptance speeches, after encountering resistance from a number of writers and producers.

Last month, the academy said two categories from each of the writing, directing, acting and series awards would be pretaped and then inserted into the live broadcast, in a bid to limit the length of the ceremony, which has been steadily losing audiences over the years. A petition by some 150 writers and producers proclaimed resistance to the plan after it was announced.

Yesterday, the academy said it was nixing the plan and would go ahead and present all 28 awards live. "This decision was made to mend relationships within the television community and to allow executive producer Don Mischer to focus his full attention on producing the creative elements in the telecast," said the academy’s chairman and CEO, John Shaffner, in making a statement.

The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards air September 20 on CBS.