Governors Award
During each year, the Board of Governors of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences shall, at the Annual Emmy Awards Presentation, grant one (1) award (the Governors Award) to an individual, company, organization or project for outstanding achievement in the arts and sciences or management of television which is either of a cumulative nature or so extraordinary and universal in nature as to go beyond the scope of the Emmy Awards presented in the categories and areas of the competition.
Past recipients of the Governors Award:
| 2020 | Tyler Perry and The Perry Foundation |
| 2019 | (No award given) |
| 2018 | Star Trek |
| 2017 | ITVS |
| 2016 | American Idol |
| 2015 | A+E Networks |
| 2014 | Marian Dougherty |
| 2013 | June Foray |
| 2012 | It Gets Better Project (co-founders Dan Savage and Terry Miller) |
| 2011 | John Walsh |
| 2010 | Norman Brokaw Ad Council |
| 2009 | Sheila Nevins and her HBO documentary unit |
| 2008 | Planet Earth (National Geographic) |
| 2007 | American Idol Gives Back Addiction |
| 2006 | MTVu Campaign for Darfur |
| 2005 | Jerry Lewis |
| 2004 | Viacom, Inc, for its pro bono publico outreaches |
| 2003 | Lifetime network's "Stop the Violence Against Women" initiative |
| 2002 | ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC for America: A Tribute to Heroes |
| 2001 | Showtime's diversity programming CNN |
| 2000 | A&E's The Biography Project For Schools The Teen Files VH1 Save The Music Foundation |
| 1999 | MTV's "Fight For Your Rights: Take a Stand Against Violence" History Channel's "Save Our History" |
| 1998 | National Geographic Television The Learning Channel's "Great Books" Literacy Project |
| 1997 | ABC's March Against Drugs Campaign Comic Relief Jac Venza |
| 1996 | USA's Erase The Hate Campaign Turner's Native American Initiative |
| 1995 | PBS |
| 1994 | (No award given) |
| 1993 | (No award given) |
| 1992 | Ted Turner |
| 1991 | Masterpiece Theatre |
| 1990 | Leonard H. Goldenson |
| 1989 | Lucille Ball |
| 1988 | William Hanna & Joseph Barbera |
| 1987 | Grant Tinker |
| 1986 | Red Skelton |
| 1985 | Alistair Cooke |
| 1984 | Bob Hope |
| 1983 | Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver |
| 1982 | Hallmark Cards, Inc. |
| 1981 | Elton H. Rule |
| 1980 | Johnny Carson |
| 1979 | Walter Cronkite |
| 1978 | William S. Paley |
updated 8.18.20