Awards
Emmys: Reduced eyeballs forces alternate telecast strategy
MUMBAI: Faced with a reduction in audiences the organisers of awards shows on television have been forced to rethink their strategy. Earlier this month the Oscars saw changes including more interactivity.
Now the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is taking steps to overhaul the prime time Emmys telecast. Last year the Emmy’s had their lowest ratings in a decade.
The Daily Variety has reported that an Academy committee voted last week to recommend moving several awards from the prime time telecast and into the non-televised Creative Arts Emmy ceremony — including supporting actor and actress in a TV movie or mini-series, and writing and directing awards for long-form and variety programmes.
The committee also voted to give reality show categories a higher profile on the televised awards show. The TV academy decided to examine ways to change the telecast after last September’s Emmy Awards turned in a disappointing performance in the ratings. The academy said its board of governors will study the proposals advanced by last week’s committee vote.
The Academy issued a statement saying, “We are in the early stages of evaluation, and there are several steps that need to be undertaken before anything is brought to the board of governors for consideration.”
Atas is considering restoring an award for best new television programme. Moving some awards to the creative arts Emmy ceremony in order to shorten the main show also has been raised as a possibility. Awards show expert Tom O’Neil, doesn’t feel that the intent is to cut the show’s running time, usually about three hours. “What’s behind this is the resentment of broadcast networks losing the movie categories to cable. This is an awards show paid for by the broadcast networks, which lose the majority of movie categories to HBO. This is their revenge.”
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
