BAFTA has shaken up major categories and rung in some eligibility changes as entries open for the 2024 TV awards.
Limited drama is a new category for scripted one-off programs or series that tell a complete story over 1-19 episodes, replacing separate categories for single drama and mini-series. “The introduction of limited drama maintains the opportunity for single self-contained films to be eligible following a decline in entries to the single drama category in recent years,” BAFTA said.
To put this in perspective, at the 2023 awards, “I Am Ruth,” starring Kate Winslet, won the single drama category, while Nicôle Lecky’s “Mood” won the best mini-series category. In 2024, there will only be one winner, under the new limited drama category. The drama series category remains unchanged.
The changes were flagged earlier by BAFTA. As set out in the 2023 rulebook, categories with under 20 entries will see three, rather than the standard four nominations announced, or alternatively, categories may be merged in order to run. The changes were made on this basis.
The other category merger for 2024 is the new sport and live event coverage category, which brings together the hitherto separate sports coverage category and live event coverage category.
Some categories have been renamed. Soap and continuing drama is now just soap; reality and constructed factual is now reality and features is now defined as factual entertainment.
In eligibility changes, in the daytime category eligibility was previously defined by high volume and returnability, not by scheduling, with entrants choosing one episode to represent the series – as is the case for all BAFTA’s competitive awards. From 2024, entered episodes must be transmitted between 09:00 – 18:00 to be eligible. In the entertainment performance category, from 2024, two people will be eligible to be considered as a pair if they have equal billing on their entered program and are entered together. This relaxes the previous requirement that pairs must be already recognized as a presenting duo to be eligible.
In addition, U.K.-based productions will be required to provide information about meeting BFI’s new diversity standards and will be required to have a policy in place on tackling bullying and harassment in order to be eligible to enter.
Hilary Rosen, chair of BAFTA’s Television Committee, said: “We’ve listened and engaged closely with our peers and have responded to wider industry trends in setting this year’s eligibility, category and voting rules, which are reviewed annually. At a time when recognition of creative efforts on-and-off screen are needed more than ever, BAFTA’s awards are an important showcase of the ingenuity and talents of those who bring TV to life.”
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