The Television Academy has introduced a new "Legacy Award," an annual Emmy honor for series that have made a significant and lasting impact on the television medium and remain culturally relevant. This award will begin this year. The Academy President and CEO, Maury McIntyre, stated that while rectifying past oversights, such as the limited Emmy recognition for "The Wire," was not the primary intent, it is a potential outcome.
"The Wire," despite critical acclaim, received only two Emmy nominations and no wins over its five seasons. The new Legacy Award's parameters require a series to have run for at least five seasons and 60 episodes, which excludes a notable portion of streaming shows. The award can also be presented to series that are currently airing. A subset of the Television Academy's board of governors will select the recipient each year.