"So You Think You Can Dance" host Cat Deeley has been tapped to host the first Critics' Choice Television Awards, the Broadcast Television Journalists Association announced on Tuesday.
The awards ceremony, which will take place at the Beverly Hills Hotel on June 20, will air on cable and satellite outlet ReelzChannel on June 22 at 8 p.m./ ET, with encore broadcasts at 11 p.m. and 2 a,m. VH1.com will live-stream the event.
Conceived by the BTJA — a partner organization of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, which presents the Critics' Choice Movie Awards — earlier this year, the Critics' Choice Television Awards will serve as a more streamlined alternative to the Emmys, honoring programming in the Comedy Series, Drama Series, Reality Series, Talk Show and Most Exciting New Series categories.
Read the BTJA's full announcement below.
CAT DEELEY TO HOST FIRST CRITICS’ CHOICE TELEVISION AWARDS
BTJA PARTNERS WITH REELZCHANNEL FOR BROADCAST AND VH1.COM FOR LIVE STREAMING
LOS ANGELES (May 31, 2011) – The Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA), a new offshoot of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, today announced that So You Think You Can Dance host Cat Deeley will host the inaugural Critics’ Choice Television Awards scheduled to take place at the Beverly Hills Hotel on June 20, 2011.
Cable and satellite network REELZCHANNEL, available in more than 58 million homes, will broadcast the Critics’ Choice Television Awards premiering on June 22 at 8 p.m. ET and repeating at 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. ET. The Awards will be rebroadcast throughout the week. VH1.com will exclusively live stream the awards show on June 20 and will make select footage available for on-demand viewing following the star-studded event. VH1.com will also offer celebrity interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and an opportunity for fans to interact with celebrities backstage with its "fan-cam" stream. Bob Bain will executive produce the show for Bob Bain Productions. Dan Black of Greenberg Traurig represented BFCA and BTJA in the negotiations with REELZCHANNEL and VH1.com.
Awards categories include best show and performance honors in drama, comedy, reality and talk—as well as the “Most Exciting New Series” premiering this Summer and Fall, judging from pilots and early episodes.
“From So You Think You Can Dance to the Royal Wedding to the Critics’ Choice Television Awards, the dazzling and talented Cat Deeley instantly puts our awards on the map, plus she ensures an entertaining and lively show,” said Joey Berlin, acting-president of BTJA. “With REELZCHANNEL on board as our broadcast partner, we are able to deliver a broad-based audience to share in the recognition of our honorees. We are equally excited to be teaming with VH1, our television partner for the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, to live stream the event.”
The Critics’ Choice Television Awards will honor programs and performances that aired between June 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011 in the following categories:
COMEDY SERIES
• Lead Actor
• Lead Actress
• Supporting Actor
• Supporting Actress
• Show
DRAMA SERIES
• Lead Actor
• Lead Actress
• Supporting Actor
• Supporting Actress
• Show
REALITY SERIES
• Reality Program
• Reality-Competition Program
• Host
TALK SHOW
(Daytime as well as late night shows will be included in this category.)
MOST EXCITING NEW SERIES
