Daytime Emmys Remove Younger Performer Category, Merge Writing Categories

Beatrice Verhoeven
·5 min read

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced category changes to the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards. Changes include the removal of the outstanding younger performer category and merging outstanding writing for daytime non-fiction series with outstanding writing for daytime non-fiction special to make a cohesive outstanding writing for a daytime non-fiction program.

The organization has been recognizing younger performers in daytime dramas since 1985 in outstanding young man and outstanding ingenue in a drama series categories. They were later renamed to outstanding juvenile male and female in a drama series, and eventually would be renamed outstanding younger actor and actress in a drama series. Initially, the lack of an age limit permitted actors in their 20s to compete in that category as opposed to the main daytime drama acting categories. After dropping the age limit from 25 to 21 in 2021, in 2022, the age limit was set to 18. The rule change means that younger actors will now need to enter in the traditional lead, supporting or guest categories.

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Additionally, NATAS, has eliminated the outstanding promotional announcement category, and the daytime program host category has been split into two categories: daytime personality-daily, and daytime personality-non-daily. Hosts, co-hosts and correspondents from entertainment news and legal/courtroom programs are eligible within both categories depending on airing/streaming schedules. While they remain eligible in their respective program categories, they cannot win two Emmys for the same program.

“Programming is always changing, and NATAS continues to adapt its competition rules to reflect these shifts in the television landscape,” says President of NATAS Adam Sharp. “We’re looking forward to gathering again at the 51st Daytime Emmys to celebrate all the nominees and the entertaining and enlightening programs they create.”

The Call for Entries for the upcoming Daytime Emmys also opened on Thursday.

The Hollywood Reporter shares the full list of changes below.

Daytime Program Host Eligibility

Hosts, Co-Hosts, and Correspondents from Entertainment News and Legal/Courtroom Programs (e.g. the judges and bailiffs) are now eligible within the Daytime Personality – Daily or Daytime Personality – Non-Daily category depending on airing/streaming schedule. They also remain eligible in their respective Program categories but cannot win two Emmy statuettes for the same function, e.g. if a Program wins Outstanding Program and the Hosts win Outstanding Daytime Personality, the statuette defaults to the Host entry. Hosts from the same Program will be included in a single entry with all Hosts, Co-Hosts, Anchors and Correspondents on the same submission and the reel must contain footage that highlights all entrants.

Daytime Personality – Daily

Honoring Hosts, Co-Hosts, Anchors, and Correspondents on Daytime-eligible content that airs or streams daily and/or has more than 52 episodes per calendar year. Eligible genres are: Entertainment News, Legal/Courtroom, Travel/Adventure/Nature, Instructional/How-To, Lifestyle, Arts and Popular Culture, Educational and Informational, and Short Form. Talk Series Hosts and Culinary Hosts remain eligible only in their respective categories.

Daytime Personality – Non-Daily

Honoring Hosts, Co-Hosts, Anchors, Correspondents, and Narrators on Daytime-eligible content that airs or streams weekly or all at once and/or has fewer than 52 episodes per calendar year (regardless of how many were filmed or produced). Eligible genres are: Entertainment News, Legal/Courtroom, Travel/Adventure/Nature, Instructional/How-To, Lifestyle, Arts and Popular Culture, Educational and Informational, Daytime Special, and Short Form. Talk Series Hosts and Culinary Hosts remain eligible only in their respective categories.

For Daytime Hosts, the Talk Series Host and Culinary Host categories remain unchanged.

Eliminated Categories

Outstanding Younger Performer in a Daytime Drama Series (Younger Performers remain eligible to enter Lead, Supporting or Guest categories.)

Outstanding Promotional Announcement

Merged Categories

Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Non-Fiction Series and Outstanding Writing for Daytime Non-Fiction Special, merged into Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Non-Fiction Program.

Petitioning Off-List Credits 

Late Credit Additions are still permitted, as per the parameters above, but ONLY for on-list credits. Off-list credits must be submitted at the time of entry to allow for Awards Administration to seek a full petition if warranted. Off-list credits cannot be submitted late.

Music Licensing

For categories identified as Music Categories (these are Music Direction and Composition and Original Song in the Daytime Emmys), nominees will be required to provide complete publishing information and sign an additional NATAS-issued licensing agreement allowing NATAS to use the music featured in the Ceremony Clip(s). The information will be distributed to nominees only. Failure to provide adequate information AND proper contact information for a legally authorized signer will result in a different clip being selected or replacement of the music with rights-cleared music at NATAS’ discretion.

Late Credit Additions 

NATAS is moving away from a policy of allowing late credit additions after the ceremony date. Please be aware that this is the final year in which Daytime will allow for fee-based changes after the ceremony date. Entrants should be preparing for a streamlined process including reviewing credits, name spellings, titles, etc. at the time of submission via the Producer’s Proof in Orthicon. To help acclimate the community to our future process, we will be introducing a staggered late credit fee structure:

  • Changes from the entry window close to five business days after the nominations announcement: gratis

  • Changes from six business days after the nominations announcement through the ceremony: $250 per change

  • Changes from the ceremony date through 30 days after the ceremony date: $500 per change **LAST YEAR OF POST-CEREMONY CHANGES**

  • Changes 31+ days after the ceremony: not allowed under any circumstances

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