Television actors will get an extra chance at a primetime Emmy nomination in the future, thanks to a decision to expand the number of nominees to six from five in the leading categories, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences said on Wednesday.
A series of ties over the last three years along with what the Academy called "an extraordinary number of nomination-worthy programing and performances" led the primetime Emmy award committee to increase the slots in 10 categories.
From now on, there will be six nominations in the categories of best drama series, best comedy series, best actor and actress in a drama series, best actor and actress in a comedy series and best supporting actor and actress in comedy and drama series.
Television Academy Chairman John Shaffner said the increase "exemplifies the Television Academy's awareness of the amount of great television and fine individual work that is seen across the enormous spectrum of the television universe."
Nominations for the 61st primetime Emmys will be announced in July and handed in Los Angeles on September 20.
