Two weeks after we announced the nominations for the 76th Emmy Awards, I was privileged to host another important event where the same sense of energy and pride was palpable: the Television Academy's first Town Hall in several decades. Held July 31 in the Wolf Theatre at our Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, it was a welcome opportunity to engage with our members in person and via livestream on the Academy website.
As I said that evening, one of the things I appreciate most about the Academy is that membership is not by invitation, but rather by professional achievement. That means that whether you ever win an Emmy yourself, or even work on an Emmy-nominated project, each of you has earned a seat at our table because you make television — and we're glad you're here.
Despite the challenges our industry is continuing to face, our membership has seen significant growth. We're now more than 25,000 strong, representing outstanding artists, technical experts and executives in every facet of television who find value in Academy membership. And our most recent demographic report was promising, with members of color increasing over 4% in two years, now up to a third of the Academy's membership. This is part of our ongoing journey to ensure that our membership and our industry are reflective of the American audience itself.
As we approach the Emmys, I want to take another moment to congratulate all the nominees. This year's nominations in the program categories are as varied as they are compelling, and a true testament to the creativity and talent of our industry colleagues. And with significant breakthroughs in inclusion across categories and 36 first-time performer nominees, September 15 promises to be a night of historic firsts.
We have been working closely with our partners at ABC and executive producers Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay of Jesse Collins Entertainment to deliver a program that engages viewers and the industry alike. Our goal is to make television's biggest night a must-watch event that reflects and celebrates the very best of television and entertains audiences around the world. For updates on other Emmy news, watch this space. And to be sure your voice is heard, submit your final-round ballots by Monday, August 26.
And, of course, mark your calendars for the 76th Emmys telecast, airing live on ABC at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT on Sunday, September 15, and streaming the next day on Hulu.
