Talks underway on Latin Emmys

Despite the difficulties that have faced the Latin Grammys, plans are being discussed about the feasibility of establishing a Latin Emmy Awards, with talks underway between the television academies in New York and Los Angeles.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, based in New York, is enthusiastically backing the idea and has engaged in conversations with the two major Spanish-language U.S. networks, Univision and Telemundo, about sharing the broadcast.

The New York academy wants to position the event as a joint venture between the two nonprofit organizations, which split acrimoniously in the 1970s but have been exploring areas in which they can work together more closely since the death of the eastern academy’s longtime president, John Cannon, last year.

“We realize the fastest-growing area of the television business, Spanish-language television, is underrepresented in our awards and underrepresented in our business,” said Peter Price, president of the national academy.

However, officials at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in North Hollywood are approaching the idea with caution, saying they are still “in the fact-gathering stage,” determined to ensure that such an event can work logistically in terms of exercising control over judging procedures and awards criteria.

Industry sources, in fact, say the New York academy has been pushing its Los Angeles counterpart to take action for several months. Price -- apparently hoping to jump-start the proposal -- offhandedly referenced the new Emmys show in a news release last week, saying the goal is to have it up and running by next year.

The tentative plan would be for the awards to recognize Spanish-language programs in a full range of categories, including prime-time soap operas (or telenovelas), news and sports.

Among the concerns privately expressed is whether creating a specialized Latin Emmy marginalizes Spanish-language programs, which compete alongside English-language newscasts in local Emmy competitions. Price noted that no award has been presented to a Spanish-language production on the national level since 1998, underscoring the need for separate recognition.

Ratings are also an issue, with the future of the Latin Grammys uncertain after this year’s low-rated telecast on CBS.

A Telemundo spokeswoman said the network has “no plans at this time” to broadcast the Latin Emmys, and Univision officials could not be reached for comment.

The New York academy hands out Emmys each year for outstanding news, documentary and sports programs, while the West Coast academy orchestrates the nighttime Emmys. The daytime Emmys are also presented in New York, but with the L.A. academy’s cooperation.

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Times staff writer Dana Calvo contributed to this story.