2009 Sports Emmy Award Nominations Announced

UPDATE, 4/28 - 30th Sports Emmy Awards list is here.

Here are the Sports Emmy Award Nominations, just released. The ESPN family of networks lead with 54 nominations. That's a lot. Take a look.

NOMINEES FOR THE 30TH ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS
ANNOUNCE AT IMG WORLD CONGRESS OF SPORTS

Winners to be Honored During the April 27th Ceremony
At Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center

Dick Ebersol To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

New York, NY – April 2, 2009 - The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 30th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards at the IMG World Congress of Sports at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami, Florida. Frank Radice, President of NATAS was joined by Ross Greenberg, President of HBO Sports and David Levy President of Turner Sports in making the announcement.

At the 30th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards, winners in 32 categories including outstanding live sports special, live series, sports documentary, studio show, promotional announcements, play-by-play personality and studio analyst will be honored. The Awards will be given out at the prestigious Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center located in the Time Warner Center on April 27th, 2009 in New York City.

In addition, Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics, will receive this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award that evening. He is the winner of 24 Sports Emmy® Awards and has received the NATAS Trustees Award.

Dick Ebersol, who has led NBC Sports for 20 years, is renowned for his ability to amass large television audiences. Most recently, Ebersol architected two record-breaking television events: The Beijing Olympic Games, the most watched event in U.S. history, and Super Bowl XLIII, which delivered the largest single audience. Remarkably, he has now produced seven of the top ten most-watched events of all time.

Ebersol is recognized as a creative producer and a skilled promoter. Under his leadership, NBC Sports has come to represent superior production that elevates sport, broad promotion and mutually-beneficially partnerships. His crowning achievement has been establishing NBC Universal as the home of the Olympic Games, TV’s most powerful franchise, through 2012. He has served as executive producer of every Olympics NBC has broadcast since 1992. Ebersol also has served as executive producer for five Super Bowls and is executive producer for "Sunday Night Football." He negotiated the landmark NFL deal which saw the League's premier primetime package move to Sunday night and includes innovative flexible scheduling.

Over four decades in the industry, Ebersol stands alone as an executive who has played a prominent role in the wide-ranging fields of sports, entertainment and news. Starting his career at ABC Sports under the legendary Roone Arledge, Ebersol went on to create “Saturday Night Live” with Lorne Michaels, before returning to his roots in sports. Along the way, he has collected numerous accolades and honors including induction into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Fortune sums up Ebersol’s accomplishments by saying he “has practically done it all in a storied TV career.”

Many of the leading sports broadcasters, personalities and television professionals will be presenters at the event. American Airlines and Grass Valley are the official sponsors of the 30th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards. Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal is the exclusive magazine partner.

A breakdown of the nominees by network and platform as well as a full list of nominees compiled by the accounting firm of Lutz and Carr, LLP, New York, follows this release.

Breakdown of Multiple Program / Series Nominations

Program Nominations Network

Games of the XXIX Olympiad, 12 - NBC

Outside the Lines, 9 - ESPN

ESPN NASCAR, 5 - ABC/ESPN/ESPN2

NASCAR on FOX, 5 - FOX

Sport Science, 5 - FSN

Amazing Sports Stories, 4 - FSN

Calzaghe-Jones 24/7, 4 - HBO

E: 60, 4 - ESPN

ESPN Monday Night Football, 4 - ESPN

2008 NCAA Basketball on CBS, 3 - CBS

FOX NFL Sunday, 3 - FOX

NBA on TNT, 3 - TNT

NFL on FOX, 3 - FOX

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, 3 - HBO

2008 Masters, 2 - ESPN

Baseball’s Golden Age, 2 - FSN

De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7, 2 - HBO

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys, 2 - HBO

MLB on FOX, 2 - FOX

NFL on CBS, 2 - CBS

Sunday Night Football, 2 - NBC

Sunday NFL Countdown, 2 - ESPN

2008 - 2009 Emmy Awards for Sports Number of Nominations by Network

Network Nominations

ESPN 42

NBC 28

FOX 18

HBO 18

Turner 14

FSN 12

CBS 11

NFL 10

ABC 8

ESPN2 3

Showtime 3

A&E 1

BackOnTopps.com 1

Big Ten Network 1

DIRECTV 1

ESPN Classic 1

Golf Channel 1

PGATOUR.com 1

VOOM 1

The Nominations

Outstanding LIVE SPORTS SPECIAL

108th U.S. Open Championship, NBC

NASCAR on FOX: Daytona 500, FOX

Super Bowl XLII, FOX

The Championships, Wimbledon - Gentlemen's Final, NBC

X Games 14, ESPN

Outstanding LIVE SPORTS SERIES

ESPN College Football, ABC

ESPN Monday Night Football, ESPN

NASCAR - TNT Summer Series, TNT

NASCAR on FOX, FOX

NBC Sunday Night Football, NBC

Outstanding LIVE EVENT TURNAROUND

2008 Bassmaster Classic, ESPN2/Career Sports Entertainment

2008 Tour de France, CBS

2008 World Series of Poker: Final Table, ESPN

Games of the XXIX Olympiad, NBC

Inside the PGA Tour - The Deutsche Bank Championship, Golf Channel/PGA Tour Productions

Outstanding EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL

2008 Beijing Paralympics, NBC

Calzaghe‑Jones 24/7, HBO

The 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship, NBC/Ironman Productions

The Greatest Game Ever Played, ESPN

Varsity Rivals, CBS/Intersport/NFL Films

Outstanding SPORTS DOCUMENTARY

Big Ten Short Stories - Friends of Jaclyn Special Edition, Big Ten Network

Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football, HBO

Joe Louis: America's Hero Betrayed, HBO

Jose Canseco: Last Shot, A&E/The Trifecta Production Company

The Streak, ESPN2

Outstanding EDITED SPORTS SERIES/Anthology

America's Game: The Missing Rings, NFL Network/NFL Films

Baseball's Golden Age, FSN

De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7, HBO

HBO Boxing: Countdown Shows, HBO

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, HBO

Road to Redemption, ESPN/NBA Entertainment

Sport Science, FSN

Outstanding STUDIO SHOW ‑ WEEKLY

College Gameday (Football), ESPN

Football Night in America, NBC

FOX NFL Sunday, FOX

Inside the NFL, CBS/Showtime/NFL Films

Monday Night Countdown, ESPN

Sunday NFL Countdown, ESPN

Outstanding STUDIO SHOW ‑ DAILY

Baseball Tonight, ESPN

Inside the NBA ‑ Playoffs, TNT

MLB Postseason Studio, TBS

Outside the Lines First Report, ESPN

Pardon the Interruption, ESPN

Outstanding SPORTS JOURNALISM

E: 60 - Gymnastics Abuse, ESPN

Outside the Lines - Concerns in Happy Valley, ESPN

Outside the Lines - O.J. Mayo's Inner Circle, ESPN

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel - Horse Slaughter: Running For Their Lives, HBO

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel - NFL Stadium Drinking, HBO

Outstanding SHORT FEATURE

2008 NCAA Basketball on CBS - Jason Ray Feature, CBS

E: 60 - The Power of One ‑ Adam Bender, ESPN

Outside the Lines - John Challis, ESPN

Outside the Lines - Roller Derby Revival, ESPN

Outside the Lines - Touching Them All, ESPN

Outstanding LONG FEATURE

2008 NCAA Basketball on CBS ‑ Final Four - Zambia's Hope Feature, CBS

Outside the Lines - Kick for Nick, ESPN

Outside the Lines - Louis Mulkey, ESPN

Outside the Lines - Richard Jensen, ESPN

Outstanding OPEN/TEASE

ESPN NASCAR - Indianapolis 500, ABC

Games of the XXIX Olympiad: The Clock of Their Lives, NBC

NBA All‑Star Game - Chris Rock All‑Star Tease, TNT

NFL on FOX: Super Bowl XLII - Super Bowl XLII ‑ Perfection, FOX

Saturday Night Football: Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys, NFL Network

Outstanding NEW APPROACHES SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE

Games of the XXIX Olympiad: Beyond the Broadcast, NBCOlympics.com/NBC Sports

NASCAR.com RaceBuddy, NASCAR.com/Turner Sports

NBA League Pass - Broadband, NBA.com/Turner Sports

NBA.com ‑ TNT OverTime 2008 All‑Star Saturday, NBA.com/Turner Sports

NFL Sunday Ticket Experience, DIRECTV

NFL.com LIVE: Thursday and Saturday Night Football, NFL.com/NFL Network

Outstanding NEW APPROACHES SPORTS PROGRAMMING

Amazing Sports Stories, FSN

Ring Life, HBO.com/HBO Sports

Sport Science, FSN

YouTube Baby, ESPN.com

Outstanding NEW APPROACHES ‑ SPORTS PROGRAMMING ‑ SHORT FORMAT

Anatomy of a Play, NFL.com/NFL Network/NFL Films

Back on Topps, BackOnTopps.com/The Tornante Company/El Chopper Quatro

Mayne Street, ESPN.com

NFL Ultimate Audio on NFL.com, NFL.com/NFL Network/NFL Films

No Love Lost, ESPN.com

Outside the Ropes, PGATOUR.com/PGA Tour Productions

Outstanding Sports Personality ‑ STUDIO HOST

Bob Costas, NBC/HBO

Bryant Gumbel, HBO

Chris Berman, ESPN

Ernie Johnson, TNT/TBS

James Brown, CBS/Showtime

Outstanding Sports Personality ‑ PLAY‑BY‑PLAY

Al Michaels, NBC

Dan Hicks, NBC

Jim Nantz, CBS

Joe Buck, FOX

Mike Emrick, NBC

Outstanding Sports Personality ‑ STUDIO ANALYST

Cris Collinsworth, NBC/Showtime/CBS/HBO

John Kruk, ESPN

Steve Mariucci, NFL Network

Terry Bradshaw, FOX

Tom Jackson, ESPN

Outstanding Sports Personality ‑ SPORTS EVENT ANALYST

Cris Collinsworth, NFL Network/NBC

Doug Collins, TNT

John Madden, NBC

Johnny Miller, NBC

Ron Jaworski, ESPN

Tim McCarver, FOX

Outstanding TECHNICAL TEAM REMOTE

2008 Winter X Games, ESPN/ABC

ESPN Monday Night Football, ESPN

ESPN NASCAR, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2

Games of the XXIX Olympiad, NBC

NASCAR on FOX, FOX

Red Bull Air Race World Series, FSN

Outstanding TECHNICAL TEAM STUDIO

ESPN NASCAR, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2

Games of the XXIX Olympiad, NBC

MLB Postseason, TBS

Sport Science, FSN

Sunday NFL Countdown, ESPN

Outstanding CAMERA WORK

2008 Masters - Open, ESPN

2008 NCAA Basketball on CBS ‑ Final Four - Zambia's Hope, CBS

Amazing Sports Stories, FSN/Red Line Films

Calzaghe‑Jones 24/7, HBO

Games of the XXIX Olympiad: The Clock of Their Lives, NBC

Quest for the Cup, VOOM/NASCAR Media Group


Outstanding EDITING

Amazing Sports Stories - Joe Jennette: The Fighter Who Refused to Quit, FSN/Red Line Films

Calzaghe‑Jones 24/7, HBO

Games of the XXIX Olympiad: Olympic Profiles, NBC

Games of the XXIX Olympiad: Remember the Titans, NBC

NBA on TNT, TNT

The Championships, Wimbledon, ESPN

The Dick Schaap WRITING AWARD

Baseball's Golden Age, FSN/Black Canyon Productions

British Open, TNT

De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7, HBO

FOX NFL Sunday -Super Bowl XLII ‑ Perfection, FOX

NBA on TNT, TNT

NFL Films Presents: Lost in Confetti, NFL Network/NFL Films


Outstanding MUSIC COMPOSITION/DIRECTION/LYRICS

2008 Masters - Open, ESPN

E: 60 - Homeless Hoops, ESPN

ESPN Sunday Night Baseball ‑ Final Game at Yankee Stadium - Opening Tease, ESPN

Games of the XXIX Olympiad: The Clock of Their Lives, NBC

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys, HBO/NFL Films

NFL on CBS - AFC Championship Game Tease, CBS

Outstanding Live Event AUDIO / SOUND

ESPN NASCAR, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2

Games of the XXIX Olympiad, NBC

MLB on FOX, FOX

NASCAR on FOX, FOX

NFL on FOX, FOX

Outstanding Post Produced AUDIO / SOUND

Calzaghe‑Jones 24/7, HBO

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys, HBO/NFL Films

MLB '08: An Epic Season - Wireless, ESPN/MLB Productions

Road to the Super Bowl, FOX/NFL Films

Outstanding GRAPHIC DESIGN

E:60 2008 Season, ESPN

Games of the XXIX Olympiad, NBC

MLB on FOX, FOX

NBA on ABC - 2008 NBA Finals, ABC/ESPN

Sport Science, FSN

Super Bowl XLII/FOX NFL Sunday, FOX

Outstanding PRODUCTION DESIGN / ART DIRECTION

Amazing Sports Stories, FSN/Red Line Films

Figure Skating - 2008 World Figure Skating Championships, ABC/ESPN

NFL on CBS - AFC Championship Game Tease, CBS

Sport Science, FSN

The Secret Game, ESPN Classic/Red Line Films

The George Wensel TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

ESPN Axis, ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNews

ESPN NASCAR, ABC/ESPN2

Games of the XXIX Olympiad - NBC's Three Screens Olympics (Beijing & at Home), NBC

Virtual Playbook/Augmented Reality, ESPN

Outstanding SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT‑ INSTITUTIONAL

2008 Fantasy Football - Blues, NFL Network/Restless Films

ESPN Monday Night Football ‑ Is it Monday Yet? - Alarm Clocks, Customers, Cubicles, ESPN/MJZ

MLB ALL Star Game 2008 - Raftors, FOX/Buf, Fox Sports Design

NBA on TNT Playoffs - Terrence Howard Tease, TNT

This is SportsCenter - More Hips, Conditioning Coach, Explosive Speed, ESPN/Hungry Man

Outstanding SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT ‑ EPISODIC

2008 NFL Training Camp - In Rhythm, NFL Network / NFL.com/NFL Network

2009 Winter Classic, NBC

ESPN Monday Night Football ‑ Is it Monday Yet? - Customers, Cubicles, Class, ESPN/MJZ

NASCAR on FOX 2008 - Engine City, FOX/Buf

NBC Sunday Night Football ‑ Kick‑off Weekend - Manning Brothers, NBC

Some thoughts as I was editing this. Mayne Street gets nominated and I thought it was a good choice. In the major categories like Host, Analyst and Journalism, kind of strange to see Bryant Gumbel in there for Real Sports since all he does is introduce pieces and do the crossovers with the correspondents. If the Academy nominated him for his commentaries, that's another thing, but that's a strange nomination. John Kruk for Studio Analyst is also strange. I don't think he's that good. And nice to see ESPN's Outside The Lines and E:60 creep into the Journalism category after HBO's Real Sports had owned it for so long.

For play-by-play, nice to see Mike Emrick get a nomination because he's really good at calling hockey, probably the best ever along with Dan Kelly. Canadians will say Foster Hewitt, but I never got to hear him.

The Sports Emmy Awards will be handed out later this month.