Although the organization retired its Outstanding Younger Performer in a Drama Series category in 2023, after years of reducing age requirements for eligibility, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), the organization behind the Daytime Emmy Awards, announced on Tuesday that it will be introducing a new category that could see a wide variety of talented individuals vying for the statuette when it is handed out in October.
In an interview with TV Insider, Rachel Schwartz, the woman overseeing the Daytime Emmys and the Children & Family Emmy Awards for NATAS, revealed the new category will be called Emerging Talent, and will award those individuals “who are on their first daytime contract, so there is not necessarily an age parameter with it.”
While she expects younger actors in particular to stand out among the nominees list when the time comes for its introduction, she notes that the category does have some limitations, particularly how often one can be nominated.
Sonja Flemming/CBS
“There will be a limitation that you can enter the category for the first 2 years that you are on the program, and then at that point you’re no longer going to be considered ‘emerging,’ and you also, if you win the category, then you can no longer enter it as well,” said Schwartz.
Although she referenced an actor being on contract previously, Schwartz later clarified that one doesn’t necessarily have to be on contract with the show at any point to be eligible for the nomination, they just have to have a speaking role within the time frame outlined.
“You need to have a speaking role and you need to have at least one continuous story arc in order to be eligible for this new category,” Schwartz pointed out while adding that one must not have been on their respective show for more than two years to be eligible. Otherwise, they can submit themselves for entry in the lead or supporting categories.
As for an update on “The 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” which will take place in October going forward after the organization moved its News & Documentary Emmy Awards to the June slot, Schwartz shared that currently there is no broadcast partner for the awards show with the CBS contract expiring last year.
From 2020-2024, CBS aired the Daytime Emmys exclusively on its network, marking the 18th time overall it had carried the awards show, the most of any network.