Starz CEO on ‘Outlander,’ ‘Power’ Emmy Snubs: ‘It’s Not a Level Playing Field’

“This is all silly,” Chris Albrecht tells reporters about how his shows have not broken through with awards voters

Outlander Season Finale Dragonfly in Amber
Starz

Starz CEO Chris Albrecht is downplaying the fact that shows like “Outlander” and “Power” have been shut out of Emmy nominations year after year.

“I don’t think we’ll ever break through with those people on those shows,” Albrecht said about the snubs during his executive session at the Television Critics’ Association’s summer press tour on Monday. “I was part of the team that invented how to campaign for Emmy Awards. Trust me, it’s not a level playing field. I spent years inside of the TV Academy, working it. It took a lot of money.”

“Outlander” — which has been a critical and fan favorite — was nominated for just one Emmy, Outstanding Music Composition for a Series

Nevertheless, the exec praised Starz shows including “Survivor’s Remorse” and “The Girlfriend Experience.”

“We couldn’t be more proud of the work of the people on the shows,” he said. “It is award-worthy, whether it is an Emmy Award or not is not the point.”

Albrecht also expressed bewilderment at how Starz shows did not win any Golden Globe awards in 2016, especially since “they rarely let anyone go home empty-handed.”

“This is all silly,” he concluded.

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