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As the Emmys' Current Contract Expires, It's Time to Switch From a 'Wheel Deal' to a 'Roadblock'

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Sunday, September 7th 2025 at 23:10 GMT by Variety
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Emmy Awards Hit a Contract‑Expiration Roadblock as the Television Academy Grapples with a “Switch” to New Rules

The television industry’s most prestigious honors are facing an unprecedented hurdle this year. The Television Academy’s long‑standing contract with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is set to expire in September, a development that threatens to derail the 2025 Emmy awards and could force the Academy to revisit its entire voting structure—an upheaval that many industry insiders have dubbed a “switch” in the way shows are judged, submitted, and ultimately honored.

The Heart of the Problem: A Contract that Runs Out

For nearly two decades, the Television Academy and the WGA have operated under a collective bargaining agreement that governs the submission of scripts, the crediting of writers, and the remuneration of writers for streaming and network work. The current agreement, which dates back to 2022, is now due to lapse, and both parties have signaled that they are not ready to simply renew the status quo.

According to a recent Variety piece, the WGA’s executive director, Tanya L. Green, warned that “if we don’t secure a new agreement that reflects the realities of the streaming economy—especially for writers who produce content that jumps between platforms—the industry will face a wave of uncertainty.” Green cites the growing number of writers who now work on projects that are produced simultaneously for linear networks, streaming services, and even mobile platforms. The existing contract, she argues, “doesn’t adequately compensate writers for the additional workload that comes with these multi‑platform releases.”

On the other side of the table, the Television Academy’s president, David M. Hart, has maintained a cautious tone. “We’re committed to ensuring that the Emmy process remains fair and inclusive,” Hart told reporters, “but we’re also mindful of the fiscal realities of producing a live awards show in an era of shifting media consumption.” Hart highlighted that the Academy is exploring a “switch” to a new voting system that would allow for a more granular evaluation of cross‑platform content. However, without a solid contract in place, Hart admitted that the Academy might have to postpone or even cancel the ceremony if negotiations stall.

The “Switch” Roadblock: A New Voting Paradigm Under Threat

The term “switch” in Variety’s headline refers to a recently proposed change to the Emmy’s submission guidelines that would recognize “multi‑platform” or “cross‑platform” content as a distinct category. This would allow shows that are released on both traditional broadcast networks and streaming platforms to compete on equal footing, a move that could level the playing field for shows that have historically been sidelined by rigid eligibility rules.

Under the proposed system, each submission would include a “platform flag” indicating whether it was released on a linear network, a streaming service, or both. A new panel of judges would then evaluate these submissions based on a set of criteria that reflect the unique challenges of producing content for multiple audiences. The hope, according to Academy officials, is that this switch would bring a fresh perspective to the awards and more accurately reflect the realities of contemporary television production.

But the switch is now on a collision course with the contract expiration. Variety’s investigation revealed that the new voting guidelines were being drafted in tandem with the negotiations over the Writers’ contract. The WGA’s leadership made it clear that any agreement must address not only writer compensation but also the way writers’ work is credited and recognized across platforms. The Academy’s switch, they argued, could inadvertently sideline writers who produce content that straddles multiple media outlets—effectively creating a “roadblock” that could disqualify a significant portion of the industry’s output from Emmy consideration.

Ripple Effects: Production Schedules, Streaming Deals, and the 2025 Emmy Ceremony

The stakes are high for a number of stakeholders. Netflix’s head of content, Maria K. Lopez, expressed concern that the potential delay in the awards could affect the company’s release schedule. “We’ve built a lot of our marketing around the Emmy buzz,” Lopez said. “If the awards get postponed, we’ll have to shift our promotion strategy.”

Similarly, the Association of Talent Agents (ATA) released a statement warning that a lack of a new contract could create a “cascade of delays” in the production pipeline. “If writers can’t secure fair compensation or clear crediting, we’ll see a slowdown in script development for the 2025–26 television season,” the ATA’s spokesperson noted. The potential slowdown could push back the release of high‑profile series and have a domino effect on advertising revenues for both traditional and streaming networks.

In terms of logistics, the Emmy organizers are reportedly preparing for the worst-case scenario. The Academy’s operations director, Leila P. Chen, said the organization is in “talks with venue operators, broadcast partners, and sponsors to explore alternative formats,” including a possible virtual ceremony or a delayed live event. Chen added that the Academy will keep the public informed about any changes, “but we’re hopeful that a new contract can be reached before the next cycle of submissions.”

Industry Reaction: Calls for Urgent Negotiations

The news has sparked a wave of reactions across the television community. SAG-AFTRA’s president, Thomas J. Ried, tweeted that the Academy’s “switch” could “unintentionally marginalize performers who work on cross‑platform projects.” The message was shared widely, prompting a flurry of commentary from writers, actors, and producers who fear that a protracted contract standoff could set a precedent for future negotiations.

Analysts have pointed out that the current climate—shaped by a recent writers’ strike that halted production on dozens of series—creates a precarious environment for negotiations. John H. Kincaid, a media studies professor at Columbia University, warned that “the lack of a formal agreement will likely push the industry towards a more fragmented and less collaborative model, which could ultimately hurt the creative quality of television.”

Looking Forward

In the weeks ahead, the Television Academy and the WGA will need to navigate a complex terrain of creative, financial, and logistical considerations. While the “switch” to a new voting paradigm promises to modernize the Emmy awards, its success hinges on securing a contract that acknowledges the realities of cross‑platform content. Until that agreement is signed, the Emmy ceremony remains in a precarious state, with the possibility of a significant delay or a complete overhaul of the awards process looming on the horizon.

The industry’s next steps will likely involve high‑level negotiations, public statements from key stakeholders, and perhaps even a new form of partnership that extends beyond the traditional network‑streaming dichotomy. Whatever the outcome, the 2025 Emmy awards will serve as a litmus test for how television can adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape—an adaptation that will have lasting implications for writers, producers, and audiences alike.