Emmys Gets Latino Twist, Add Nine Spanish-Language Categories

A close up of the Emmy Awards statuette in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images) (2005 Getty Images)

Spanish-language television is getting more respect.

The Emmys announced it was introducing new award categories in Spanish, Variety reports.

In the Daytime Emmys, the three new categories are outstanding morning program, entertainment program and daytime talent in Spanish or Spanish-language program. For the Sports Emmys, the new categories – also three – will include sports coverage in Spanish, studio show in Spanish and on-air sports talent in Spanish. At the News and Documentary Emmys, Spanish newscast or news magazine, coverage of a breaking-news story in Spanish and investigative journalism are the new categories.

Malachy Wienges, chairman of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), said the organization has been closely watching the growth of Spanish-language media over the last 50 years and recognition of its growth is long-overdue.

“American television is changing at a rapid pace, driven by the growth of multicultural audiences who often speak more than one language,” Wienges said. “The Spanish-language media continues to grow exponentially each year, and NATAS believes it is long-overdue that we recognize its excellence in our industry.”

The entries for the new categories will not need to provide subtitles and will be judged by a panel of Spanish-language media professionals who are bilingual or Spanish proficient, Variety reports.

NATAS co-chair Linda Giannecchini, who led a task group with Univision’s marketing vice-president Chiqui Cartagena spearheading the creation of the new categories, told Variety that the Latino and Spanish-language community will welcome this new recognition with open arms.

“With our 19 regional chapters seeing more than 800 Spanish-language entries in 2013 along, the time is upon us to bring this powerful media community the true recognition that the National Emmy Awards confers,” she said.

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