The Television Academy, which organises the Emmy Awards, has announced the creation of the Legacy Award, which will be presented to television programmes that have made a “profound and lasting impact” on audiences and remain relevant to society, culture and the industry.

According to a press release from the Academy issued in Los Angeles on January 7, it last introduced an award of this significance with its Television Academy Honors Award in 2007, recognizing programming that drives positive social change.

Candidates for the Legacy Award shall be selected annually by the Governors Award committee (to be renamed the Special Awards Committee) and presented to the Board of Governors for a vote. Entries may be made by members of the Board of Governors, the Special Awards Committee or individuals who may suggest recipients in a letter to the Television Academy.

As with the Governors Award, engraved Emmy statuettes will be bestowed upon the recipients of the Legacy Award.

“The Legacy Award celebrates groundbreaking programming — programmes that have stood the test of time delivering stories that continue to engage audiences and featuring iconic and timeless characters with multigenerational appeal,” said Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego in a statement.

“The award allows the Academy to honour more of television’s rich history and acknowledge the storytellers whose work have resonated with viewers and continues to entertain legions of fans around the globe,” Abrego added.

Shows that would be eligible for the Legacy Award should have a minimum of 60 episodes aired across a minimum of five seasons; have continued or sustained relevance, influence or inspiration to a TV genre, audiences and  to society and culture and the franchise properties must be considered as a whole and awarded as such only once.

The award, according to the Academy statement, could be presented during the Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies, the Emmy telecast, Televerse or the Hall of Fame ceremony.

The Television Academy strives to shape and advance the dynamic television landscape, cultivate a diverse, inclusive and accessible professional community and advocate for the television industry while capturing the spirit of a new generation of content creators and industry professionals.