Emmy Awards to air on PBS WYCC after 25 year hiatus

The Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) 2014 Emmy Awards ceremony Nov. 1 will be especially auspicious because the 56th annual event will be televised live for the first time in 25 years.

PBS outlet WYCC/20 will both carry the show to other PBS Midwest outlets and also assume the responsibility of producing it, says Shaunese Teamer, WYCC director of revenue and development. 

The first two hours of the show will be telecast, from 8-10 p.m. and the third hour will be streamed.

“We have a record number of entries this year and we’re in the midst of planning a memorable ceremony worthy of all the nominees on their big night,” says NATAS president Marcus Riley, multimedia content producer at NBC/5.

This year there are 80 categories for broadcast and craft, including commercials and documentaries, an increase over 2013’s 72 categories.WYCC's Shaunese Teamer

Preceded by a Red Carpet guest arrival, the awards dinner and ceremony will take place in the beautiful 12,000-sq. ft. Atlantic Ballroom at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel on Columbus Drive.  This is a new venue for NATAS; previous awards dinners had been held at The Alhambra in the West Loop.

Preproduction is underway.  The station will provide an appropriate master of ceremonies and discussions are ongoing about entertainment segments to brighten the festivities.  Names of technical staff members will be confirmed shortly and a producer from NATAS is working with the station.

Teamer says WYCC is talking with Comcast about carrying the show On Demand.

WYCC PBS general manager Paul Bruckner says the station will showcase the Emmys on regional PBS stations within the Chicago/Midwest Chapter’s broadcast markets of Wisconsin and Indiana. “This will allow millions of Midwest viewers to experience this important broadcast celebration.”

A number of categories, including the announcement of the newest Silver Circle inductees and $24,000 student scholarships, will be confined to the streaming hour following the two-hour live show.

Emmy nominees will be announced Sept. 23 at the American Junkie, 15 W. Illinois, 6-8 p.m. and NATAS members will be able to vote online, a process introduced last year.

The Silver Circle Awards ceremony, honoring television professionals with more than 25 years of experience in the industry, will be held in 2015.

The Chicago/Midwest Chapter is one of the largest and most senior local chapters in the country, with a proud history of innovation and excellence in the field of broadcast television and beyond.