AFI BLOG: Media and Technology

Peace at last in Emmy battle? - Variety

N.Y. judge rules in favor of ATAS
Could peace finally be in the offing between the two rival TV academies?

A New York judge has upheld last December’s arbitration ruling in favor of the Los Angeles-based TV academy against its New York rivals, effectively ending last year’s bitter battle between the two sides.

Los Angeles’ Academy of TV Arts and Sciences - which awards the Primetime Emmys - had accused Gotham’s National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences of attempting to establish a new Broadband Emmy infrastructure without permission.

But the American Arbitration Assn. had halted those plans, agreeing with ATAS that NATAS - which hands out Daytime, News and Sports Emmys, among other categories - had violated terms of the 1977 divorce between the West and East coast acads.

Balking at that ruling, NATAS filed a petition with the New York State Supreme Court in December, asking that the award be set aside - on the grounds that the arbitrators had exceeded their authority.

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