NBC’s coverage of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games and Fox’s FIFA World Cup telecasts were the big winners Monday night at this year’s 44th annual Sports Emmy Awards, winning three Emmys each, per Variety. ESPN, meanwhile, was the night’s biggest winner among outlets, pulling 13 Emmys.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded this year’s Sports Emmys at a ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall. Bryant Gumbel will receive the lifetime achievement award for his role in sports journalism.
The Sports Emmys took place even as the writers strike has led to the postponement of NATAS’ premiere Daytime Emmys telecast next month. “While we gather together, other parts of our television community stand divided tonight,” Adam Sharp, president & CEO of NATAS said during the ceremony. “You’ll note most of the typically scripted elements of our ceremony have been pared back in acknowledgment of, and respect for, the WGA-represented writers out on strike.”
Added Sharp: “The dispute is difficult. The business challenges of the changing media landscape are like none we’ve seen before. And yet, the individual economics of making a career in our industry—starting out in our industry—can be impossible to square. … Between these two realities, the generation coming up needs our industry to sow a field of common ground, not scorched earth.”
Winners were announced in 47 categories, including studio host, event analyst, live special and live series, as well as documentary, journalism, public service content and Esports categories.
Click here for a complete list of this year’s Sports Emmy winners.
