Los Angeles, August 29, 1998
Giants from the television industry’s Academy of Television Arts and Sciences filled the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for the 50th Annual ATAS Creative Arts Awards, also known as the Emmy Awards. National Geographic Television picked up the previously announced Governors Award from ATAS president Meryl Marshall, in addition to two craft Emmy awards.
Tim Kelly, President of National Geographic Television, accepted the Governors Award on behalf of the hundreds of filmmakers, researchers, writers, cinematographers, sound technicians,musicians, and crew members who have helped make National Geographic Television a leader in the industry. He singled out National Geographic Specials Executive Producer Nick Noxon, who produced his first Special in 1965.
Kelly went on to praise the great legacy of scientists and explorers—such as Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, the Leakey family, and Robert Ballard—who have also contributed so much to National Geographic Television programs past, present, and future.
Teresa Koenig, one of two ATAS governors for nonfiction programming, said, “The Governors Award has been awarded to National Geographic Television because the Academy felt that NGT’s family programming has maintained the highest standards of excellence for nearly 35 years. NGT was the first to bring ‘the world and all that’s in it’ to a global television audience, and it remains a leader in quality nonfiction television entertainment.”
This year two Governors Awards were presented. The other award went to The Learning Channel for their Great Books series. Of special interest is the fact that the academy’s governors chose to recognize two nonfiction series for their highest honors.
Moments after Kelly accepted the Governors Award, the National Geographic Special “Don’t Say Goodbye” won an Emmy Award for cinematography (Richard Chisholm, Paul Goldsmith, Buddy Squires, Jerry Corts, Nick Caloyianis, and Jon Else) and EXPLORER’s “Rat!” won for Sound Editing (Patrick M. Griffith, Lisa Hannan).
This brings the total number of Emmy Awards won by National Geographic
Television programs to 89. In a separate ceremony, the News and Documentary Emmy Awards winners are to be announced and presented in New York on September 9, 1998. NGT programs received 14 nominations for 2 series: the National Geographic Specials, which air on NBC, and National Geographic EXPLORER, which airs on TBS Superstation.
The ATAS Creative Arts Awards ceremony from last Saturday night will be
edited to one hour and broadcast on Nickelodeon’s TV Land channel on
September 11, 1998.
Contact:
Ellen Stanley, National Geographic Television
Phone: +1 202 775 6755
estanley@ngs.org
