Overview: Emmy FYC Season Step-By-Step
Once you decide to enter the Emmy competition, follow the chronological steps below to guide you through the Emmy Awards competition process. IMPORTANT: Step 2, “Entering the Emmy competition,” is mandatory. All other steps are suggestions.
Reserve and book your FYC Event: The Television Academy’s annual lottery for booking FYC event dates will be Wednesday, January 22. See instructions and details under FYC Event Lottery. Once your FYC Event dates are confirmed , you will need to book your event through our FYC Order site at FYC.TelevisionAcademy.com to confirm your event date and schedule your invitation email. This must be completed no less than THREE weeks prior to your event date.
Enter the Emmy competition: The entry site opens Thursday, February 20. Please visit awards.TelevisionAcademy.com to enter. For questions, refer to the Emmy Rules and Procedures book or email emmyawards@televisionacademy.com.
Online FYC Viewing Platform for Members: Programs can be screened for Television Academy members using our Viewing Platform (opens early March) or your own network-hosted FYC site or platform. To screen your program on our FYC Platform, submit your order beginning February 20 by visiting FYC.TelevisionAcademy.com.
Book an FYC ad in emmy Magazine: Contact Emmy Ad Sales via email at emmymagazine@televisionacademy.com
Join the Television Academy by April 9: Only National Active members can vote for the Emmys, so make certain you and your clients join or renew memberships by the April 9 deadline! Click here to find out how to join the Television Academy. If you have any questions about membership contact: membership@televisionacademy.com
FYC Key Dates
Wednesday, January 22 – Virtual FYC Event Date Lottery
Monday, March 3 – FYC Events begin
Early March – Television Academy Viewing Platform opens
Monday, June 2 - Deadline to submit an FYC Viewing Platform order for guaranteed member email notification. Note: Orders placed after June 2 will not include an email notification.
Wednesday, June 11 - Deadline to submit an FYC Viewing Platform order for individual achievement categories, no member email notice.
Wednesday, June 11 – Last day of FYC Events
Emmy Awards Calendar
FYC Events Calendar
Events: FYC Event Lottery
Lottery Date: Wednesday, January 22 at 9:00 AM PT/12:00 PM ET
Note: Invitations for the lottery will be sent December 9, 2024. RSVP to participate by Monday, January 6. You must RSVP with the number of properties you will be selecting for in the Lottery by January 6. Zoom instructions will be sent no later than January 18 to RSVP’d participants.
FYC events will run Monday, March 3 - Wednesday, June 11.
How does the Lottery work?
When you RSVP, you must submit the number of programs/properties you’ll be drawing for. The Television Academy will confirm participation and reserves the right to confirm allotted number of slots for draw prior to the Lottery.
Round Two:
The day of the lottery, partners may not increase the number of properties stated in their reservation. If, at the conclusion of the second round there are slots available, those needing additional slots may remain on the call and select from those openings.
There is only one lottery; dates will be pulled for coast-to-coast attendance and all in-person events, whether in LA, NY or other areas, including international locations (who have the option of recording and streaming live or on-demand).
Event Timeslots:
Date Swapping
After the Lottery, you may swap dates among your own programs or with other partners by alerting Amy Pierce at pierce@televisionacademy.com.
If you are swapping dates within your parent company and its programming, you must assign ONE representative to communicate date swaps for ALL entities and their programs to Amy Pierce at pierce@televisionacademy.com.
The FYC event calendar will be populated at the lottery. To access the FYC Events Calendar follow these steps:
Open the FYC Events Calendar
Sign in with your Google account.
You will see a request to add the 2025 FYC Events Lottery calendar.
Click ADD.
Please contact fyc@televisionacademy.com with questions.
Events: Overview
Visit the FYC Order site at FYC.TelevisionAcademy.com to book your event and schedule your member email invitation. You must complete your contract form (order form part one) no less than three weeks before your event date.
FYC Events may be one of the following formats:
For all event types:
Television Academy responsibilities:
FYC Partner responsibilities:
Events: In-Person Event
In-person events may be held at the Television Academy's Wolf Theatre (Monday – Friday at 7:00 PM PT, and Saturdays in May and June for the 3:00 PM or 7:00 PM PT time slots), or at a venue of your choosing. While these events will not be produced by the Television Academy, specific guidelines do apply. Partners need to follow the requirements listed below in addition to Los Angeles County and/or other area Public Health guidelines.
Requirements for in-person events:
No gifting other than food and beverage consumed on site will be permitted. If you have any questions about whether something constitutes “gifting” or not, please ask. Should gifting occur, penalties will be levied as follows:
First violation, partner will be removed from the 1st round of FYC Event Lottery the following year.
Second violation, partner will be removed from both rounds of FYC Event Lottery the following year and will have to wait until the end of Lottery to choose an event date (as available).
Optional, but recommended for in-person events:
Events: Streaming Event (live-streamed or pre-recorded VOD event)
Any FYC event may be streamed live. We recommend hybrid events to maximize member reach. Streaming events DO NOT have to happen “live” -- you may provide a pre-recorded screening/panel or VOD that can air on your property’s selected date/time.
Live streamed or pre-recorded VOD events can be hosted on:
Streaming Event Rules & Procedures:
If hosting on a partner platform, FYC event content should require an Event Password to view. You will be asked to provide an Event Password when booking your event. Password information will be emailed to all RSVP’d members prior to the event.
If your event is being live streamed using a public-facing player (e.g., YouTube, Facebook), it must ALSO be posted on the Academy platform and members will be sent to the Television Academy Viewing Platform to watch.
If your VOD includes a screening, and your player allows members to “fast-forward,” consider noting the time the panel will start for members who have watched the show previously and want to jump to the discussion.
NOTE: On Fridays through Sundays when live-streaming is NOT available on the Television Academy Viewing Platform, you may produce and host a live stream on your own platform, but it must require a login.
Events: How To Contract (all event types)
Go to the FYC Order site at FYC.TelevisionAcademy.com to book your event and begin the process of securing your email invitation date.
Contracting deadlines:
Seven (7) weeks: Challenges can begin from the earliest FYC date and will continue on a rolling calendar.
If you are the challenger and win the date/time slot, you are committed and will be invoiced for the $5,000 event admin fee. If you cancel after an email invitation has been started, you will receive an additional $2,500 cancellation fee.
If the original date/time slot holder does not respond within 24 hours, we will consider it a confirmed, contracted event and you will be invoiced for the $5,000 event admin fee.
Five (5) weeks prior to your event date is the deadline to confirm and contract your selected date/time slot for an FYC event. Confirming earlier is welcomed!
If you have not confirmed your booking or released your date at the five (5) week mark, we’ll notify you that you have 48 hours to decide – otherwise your date/time slot will be released automatically.
When you confirm your booking, you are committed to the date and will be invoiced for the $5,000 event admin fee. If you cancel, you will not be refunded. You will also incur an additional $2,500 cancellation fee if you cancel that date after an email invitation has been started.
Reminder: Entities can only book for the time slots they have selected in the lottery.
Four (4) weeks out: Upload and approve assets for email invitation and event page on the FYC Order site at FYC.TelevisionAcademy.com
Assets are due no less than 10 business days prior to your event date.
Email send date choices are on a first-come, first-served basis. Date windows are based on your event date. Target 7 to 21 days, pending volume and scheduling.
All invitations are sent by the Television Academy’s FYC team.
The Television Academy will send reminder emails to the RSVP list 72 hours before each in-person or Streaming event.
NOTE: Every week assets and/or event details are delayed will incur a $2,500 penalty fee.
Date Swapping
See FYC Lottery section for rules and procedures to change your date/time.
Wolf Theatre Availability
The Wolf Theatre will be available for In-Person and Streaming FYC events during the 7:00 PM time slot on weeknights, unless otherwise noted. The Wolf Theatre will remain dark on weekends for all March and April FYC events; all official FYC events on weekends during those months, regardless of type, will have to be held off-site or booked as Streaming events.
Beginning Saturday, May 3, the Wolf Theatre will be available to book on Saturdays for either the 3:00 PM or 7:00 PM time slots only. Sundays will remain dark and all official FYC events will have to be held off-site or booked as Streaming events.
Whichever entity submits a contracting form first has priority to book the Wolf Theatre. The second entity to book will have the second choice to host their event at the Wolf Theatre, if available, or offsite, and so on. Once the Wolf Theatre is booked, the party with the remaining concurrent date/time slot holds will be notified.
NOTE: Only one (1) event can be booked at the Wolf Theatre per day, first come, first served, to allow proper set-up and management of cleaning and health department protocols. You may still book the Wolf Theatre for pre-recorded production during regular business hours Monday – Friday as availability permits. The Wolf Theatre is only available to host Streaming events as noted above.
Date/Event Type Changes and Fees:
After contracting, if you change a date for the same title only, no cancellation fee will be incurred – if an invite has not yet been built.
However, you will incur a penalty fee of $2,500, if after booking:
You change that date to a different title, so a new invitation must be created, and the original title invitation scrapped.
You change a date for the same title only, and a copy change is needed for an invite that has been built (assets received, in review).
You change the type of event (i.e., in-person to Streaming), and a copy change is required after the invite has been built.
We will accommodate one change to the event page for no charge. Subsequent changes will incur a penalty fee of $1,000.
Canceled Events
When you confirm your booking, either via email or the contracting form, you are committed to the date and will be invoiced for the $5,000 event admin fee. If you cancel, you will not be refunded. You will be charged an additional $2,500 cancellation fee if you cancel that date after an email invitation has been created or sent.
Events: Invitations & Event Pages
Invitations to members for all in-person, hybrid, and streaming FYC events are sent by the Television Academy’s FYC team.
Email invitations are sent Monday through Friday during FYC season; they will not be sent on Saturday or Sunday, except for event-reminder emails when applicable.
The timing of email invitation distribution to members is at the discretion of the Television Academy. We will always prioritize invitations with the earliest event date but will not hold back invitations for subsequently scheduled events that are approved and ready in the queue.
The event administration fee of $5,000* includes:
FYC Event Invitation Timeline:
Penalties & Risks for Late Asset Delivery:
If there are production delays or technical issues, your event will be presented as VOD after the event date, if it is Streaming or being recorded. Should this happen, members will be notified to watch once the VOD is available.
Any last-minute member communication requests (following the member confirmation email) will incur a $5,000 fee. However, such additional messaging is not guaranteed and will be accommodated at the Academy’s discretion. There will be no same-day communication.
RSVP DATA:
RSVPs will be collected regardless of the type of event. However, because Streaming events most likely have no capacity limit, members will not receive a "No-Show" if they don’t attend. In-person events will maintain the RSVP and member No-Show policies of previous years.
Member No-Show and Attendance Policy:
FYC Order site: FYC.TelevisionAcademy.com
Viewing Platform Options
FYC content is presented to members online. You can choose the location to host FYC video content for program category consideration. No more than two entities may host the same program:
The administration fees include emails (for “program categories” only) sent from the Television Academy to voting members, which directly alerts them to view your submitted programs and content. Click Viewing Platform Emails to see samples. These VIEWING PLATFORM emails must link to a dedicated landing page specific to the originating email brand.
In addition, the Television Academy’s Tuesday email newsletters from March to June invites members to check out the Academy’s Viewing Platform and all the programs posted or available via link.
NOTES:
If you choose to host your program category content on your own site, you still have the option of uploading episodes for individual achievement categories on the Academy's Viewing Platform, i.e. writing, directing, acting, etc.
The Academy's Viewing Platform offers access to the widest variety of FYC content possible, exclusively to members. Program category entrants and individual achievement content posted on our password-protected platform is accessible on multiple platforms including Web, iOS (iPhone or iPad), Apple TV, Chromecast, Android devices (phone, tablet, Android TV), Fire TV and Roku.
Reminder: if your video content is not ready when the email notification is sent, you need to provide a hold slide indicating the content is coming.
Uploading Content
Please be sure to confirm your submitted content video conforms to these Video Upload Specifications.
All programs must be uploaded in their entirety, as originally aired, except performers who may edit their work in selected scenes from one or more episodes into one video. All other individual achievement category entrants can only upload one complete episode chosen for their Emmy entry.
Program series entrants may upload any, or all, episodes that aired during the current eligibility period: June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025.
Program category entrants may also upload supplemental, behind-the-scenes video content. However, this cannot be done for individual achievement categories.
Your Viewing Site or Your Existing Website
If you, the applicable network, studio, streaming platform or production entity, choose to host content on a FYC viewing site, or on your platform’s website, Viewing Platform Codes (provided by you) will be sent to members via a branded email from the Television Academy.
If your site requires unique access codes, at least 30,000 codes will be required - additional codes may be needed if membership count is exceeded.
In addition, the Television Academy Viewing Platform will feature links to each FYC partner's program content.
Single Sign-On
We have a single-sign-on feature from our Television Academy Platform to third-party network platforms. We require integration between our platform and each network platform. Please email view@televisionacademy.com with any questions and/or to request the technical specifications document describing the steps to implement the single-sign-on feature.
REMINDER: Collection of Television Academy member contact information is NOT permitted whatsoever including via your own viewing platforms or at FYC events. This includes phone numbers, email or home addresses, credit card information, etc.
Booklets
You may create hard copies or digital booklets for promotion via emmy Magazine only. For information, contact Mathew Jongsma at jongsma@televisionacademy.com.
Fees
Fees are calculated based on the number of programs featured on either the Academy's Viewing Platform, the partner's FYC site, or the partner’s platform, as defined on the Pricing > Viewing Platform Program Fees page.
Emmy submissions fee information is available in the 2025 Emmy Rules and Procedures.
FYC partner payment is collected upon submission of an FYC Order. The Television Academy reserves the right to audit partner participation in the FYC program and collect fees accordingly.
Viewing Platform Code Emails for Program Category Consideration
The Television Academy will send a single, dedicated email each month during FYC season (March 3 - June 11) to members, including unique FYC Viewing Platform codes provided by you, if your Emmy-submitted content (in program categories) has been uploaded and is ready to view on either the Television Academy viewing platform or your own viewing site. Emails are not accrued per month and cannot be sent until there is content available for viewing.
For example, if your viewing site or content is not uploaded/ready until May, you will not be able to have Viewing Platform Code email(s) sent in March or April but will have the opportunity to send one in May and one in June. However, if your FYC viewing site or content is launched in March, you will have the opportunity to send one Viewing Platform Code email each in March, April, May, and June.
NOTE: Any orders placed beyond June 2 will not be eligible for an email to members.
Upload Viewing Platform codes and email image to the FYC Order site.
Viewing Platform Code Formatting Recommendations
Viewing Platform Email Timeline and Asset Delivery:
Request your desired earliest “send date" on the FYC Order site. You are permitted to select any day, You are permitted to select any day, March 3 through June 11, 2025 (excluding weekends). The Television Academy makes no guarantees for requested send dates.
Asset uploads, date choices and email approval MUST be completed 10 business days prior to your desired send date.
You cannot select your send date(s) until you’ve submitted a completed part one of the FYC Viewing Platform order.
Viewing Platform emails must link to a dedicated landing page specific to the originating email brand. Subsequent login or link may resolve to a broader company site.
NOTE: For the reminder emails, you may submit new creative for each month if the new creative is submitted 10 business days before the requested send date.
There are limitations to the number of VIEWING PLATFORM emails that are sent in a day. If your desired date is booked it will not be an option in the date selector on the online form.
REMINDER: Any orders placed after June 2 will not include an email sent to members.
Viewing Platform Codes
All Viewing Platform Codes must have an expiration date of September 30, 2025 Notification of this must be visible on emmy Magazine ads and other ad materials. Viewing Platform Codes must NOT contain any spaces or any of the following special characters: & # ; : < > - " " = _ .
emmy Magazine
In addition to a promotional email, you may also distribute Viewing Platform access codes and related information in emmy Magazine, through the options below.
NOTE: If your emmy ad is your only means of providing viewing platform codes to our members, then FYC fees, in addition to ad rates, will apply as defined on the FYC Fees page. This applies to networks, streaming platforms, studios, production entities and individuals.
Viewing Platform Codes
All Viewing Platform Codes must have an expiration date of September 30, 2025 Notification of this must be visible on emmy ads and other ad materials. Generic/easy to remember codes are recommended. For example, [your network/studio’s abbreviation] FYC2025 [XXXFYC2025]. If your site requires unique access codes, contact Emmy Ad Sales via email at emmymagazine@televisionacademy.com for complete details.
Single or Multi-Page Ads
Viewing Platform Code access information may be contained in single or multi-page ad creative, within gatefolds and inserts, and even on cover wraps, bellybands, etc. Options can be discussed when orders are placed. All ad materials must be recyclable and cannot be made of plastic, metal or laminate.
One outsert booklet is available per issue of emmy magazine (as inventory permits).
To place an FYC ad or outsert booklet in emmy, obtain deadlines, rates and specs, contact Emmy Ad Sales via email at emmymagazine@televisionacademy.com.
Guidelines for Ad Copy and Promotional Booklets
Permitted uses of the word Emmy:
Within the context of a reference to a previous Emmy competition, such as
- The 76th Emmy® Nominee in 12 categories
- Nominee, Outstanding Contemporary Costumes 76th Emmy® Awards
- The 76th Emmy® Winner for Outstanding Limited Series
NOTE: Always add the superscript ® immediately after the first use of the word “Emmy.”
Uses of the word Emmy that are not permitted:
DO NOT use the word Emmy - outside of the permitted uses above - in your promotional booklet, in your social media, FYC event invitation, emmy Magazine ads, or any other promotional executions (billboards, signage, bus wraps, etc.).
Other restrictions:
DO NOT use blatant campaign or disparaging language in either social media or traditional media, i.e., no "VOTE FOR ME" ads are permitted in emmy Magazine, in the trades or consumer pubs, on radio, or on any social media platforms.
Pricing
In addition to a promotional email, you may also distribute Viewing Platform access codes and related information in emmy Magazine, through the options below.
FYC Event Fees
Wolf Theatre Event Fees
FYC Additional Fees
$8,000 Program Categories
$6,000 Program Categories
$4,000 Program Categories
$2,000 Program Categories
NOTE: Self-published programs (meaning your project does not have the backing of a platform, studio, or network) must be vetted for the competition before any FYC promotion.
$200 Individual Achievement Categories for Television Academy Viewing Platform only
Click here for detailed individual achievement category list.
Note: Emmy submissions fee information is available in the 2025 Emmy Rules and Procedures.
Specs
Asset List
See the FYC Spec Sheet for examples of the assets needed.
Television Academy Member Communications and Marketing Do’s and Don'ts
This list refers to FYC Event Email Invitation key art and copy
DO NOT include event information (date, time, locations, seating policy, guests, parking, RSVP) in the key art. This should be sent as copy/text as outlined below.
Please note for all events invitations:
DO NOT include additional text such as more press quotes, show description, website links, or other awards/accolades. NOTE: You may, however, include accolades with ads placed in emmy Magazine.
Event Invitation Emails
Email Design
FYC headers, footers and disclaimer are standard and cannot be customized. They will be added by the Television Academy.
Customization of email invitations is limited to key art, event information, and the above.
We reserve the right to reject any files and copy if they do not meet the requirements.
NOTE: If you invite Television Academy members to an event taking place during FYC season – e.g., PaleyFest, a premiere screening, etc. - the event will display the FYC headers with identification of the type of event. For example:
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However, it will count as the one FYC event permitted for that program. Invitation copy must clarify that the event is a mix-in and identify the number of seats available for Academy’s voting members.
Viewing Platform Code Email Samples – Click here for the Viewing Platform email samples.
Email Design:
NOTE: While you may feature whichever programming your platform is promoting on the Viewing Platform Code email key art, no individual program can be linked to unless it is the sole program that you are putting up for consideration.
Upload Viewing Platform codes and email image to the FYC Order site at FYC.TelevisionAcademy.com
For detailed specifications for video content to be uploaded if using the Academy’s Viewing Platform, visit these links:
Please email view@televisionacademy.com if you have additional questions regarding specifications.
FYC Communications Guidelines
We appreciate your cooperation in following these guidelines when planning campaigns and creating materials.
Infractions brought to our attention will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis; guidelines will be enforced. Fees and penalties apply.
If you have any questions, please contact us at fyc@televisionacademy.com.
Guidelines for Ad Copy and Promotional Booklets
Permitted uses of the word Emmy:
Within the context of "FYC" - for example:
Emmy® 2025 FYC
Emmy® 2025 For Your Consideration
For Your Emmy® Consideration
In social media copy, the word “Emmy” can be incorporated into a hashtag in place of the ® trademark
Within the context of a reference to a previous year's Emmy competition, such as:
The 76th Emmy® Nominee in 12 categories
Nominee, Outstanding Contemporary Costumes 76th Emmy® Awards
The 76th Emmy® Winner for Outstanding Limited Series
In social media copy, the word Emmy can be incorporated into a hashtag in place of the ® trademark
NOTE: Always add the superscript ® immediately after the first use of the word “Emmy.”
Uses of the word Emmy that are not permitted:
DO NOT use the word Emmy - outside of the permitted uses above - in your promotional booklet, in your social media, FYC event invitation, emmy Magazine ads, or any other promotional executions (billboards, signage, bus wraps, etc.).
Who can vote:
When creating an advertisement for emmy Magazine, please include the following to avoid reader/member confusion: NOTE: While only National Active members are eligible to vote, all members may view screener content on the Television Academy’s Member Viewing Platform or FYC partner sites.
Other restrictions:
DO NOT use blatant campaign or disparaging language in either social media or traditional media, i.e., no "VOTE FOR ME" ads are permitted in emmy Magazine, in the trades or consumer pubs, on radio, or on any social media platforms.
Social Media
Feel free to tag the Television Academy and Emmys in your social media posts using our official handles:
We are NOT @TheEmmys
Promotion Between Voting Rounds
The Academy does not currently offer or sanction any FYC campaign events during voting or in between voting rounds. If you host an event promoting your Emmy-eligible or Emmy-nominated program during either period, you may not promote it as an official Emmy FYC Event or exclusively, directly or indirectly target the Television Academy membership in any way.
After our Nominations Announcement on July 15, we are happy to work with you on congratulatory messages and ads. Those materials may contain your FYC elements: “FYC” as part of your URL, your hashtag or social messaging, your branded logo lock-ups, or on your website for viewing nominated content.
We will provide brand-appropriate Emmy statuette imagery and usage guidelines for your congratulatory ad/messaging to place across different media, but request that you review those materials with us prior to use. Please send materials for review to fyc@televisionacademy.com.
Updated 01.09.25
