New eight-year Emmy deal set for TV academy, networks

(CBS/AP) The Emmy Awards and the four major TV networks have agreed to an eight-year, $66 million deal that will bring changes to the awards show making its 63rd run this September.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' board of governors approved the deal Wednesday night with ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, according to a statement from the academy and the networks.

Pictures: Emmy Awards red carpet 2010
Pictures: Emmy Award winners 2010

Reality TV show creator Mark Burnett, whose credits include "Survivor," "Celebrity Apprentice" and "The Voice," will produce the ceremony airing Sept. 18.

The networks will continue to air the show in rotation, with Fox kicking off the new cycle this year.

"We are excited about the continued collaboration with our broadcast partners, and look forward to working with Fox and, for the first time, with Mark Burnett on this year's telecast," said John Shaffner, academy chairman and CEO.

Each network agreed to pay $8.25 million for the ceremony each year, which guarantees $66 million for the academy for the deal's entirety.

As a way to create a sleeker, more audience-friendly show, each network is being asked to look at the current ceremony's categories and number of awards to find ways to boost viewership.

The Emmy Awards reached an all-time viewership low in 2008 with 12.3 million viewers. Since then, viewership has increased with 13.47 million viewers last year. However, producers are still looking to acquire the mass following of its sister-shows the Grammys and the Oscars.

One suggestion to increase viewership was to include public voting, which would lead to popularizing the winners. This approach would appeal to networks who want their top-rated programs, such as CBS' "NCIS" and "The Mentalist," to receive the same prestige as lesser-viewed shows, such as AMC's"Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad."