TV Academy Reaches Agreement with Major Networks; Mark Burnett To Produce

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences reached a $66 million deal with ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC that extends their TV contract through 2018.

Under the agreement, the four networks will continue to air the awards ceremony in a rotation, with Fox kicking off the cycle this year. The academy will get an increase in the license fee from the networks totaling about $8.25 million per ceremony. The previous deal, which expired this year, entitled the academy to $7.5 million.

The new eight-year deal also allows that, beginning in 2012, each year's designated network, along with the academy, can review the number of awards given and how they're presented. The move is an effort to shorten the telecast because of a recent decline in ratings.

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Also announced on Wednesday was the addition of Mark Burnett as producer.

"We are excited about the continued collaboration with our broadcast partners, and look forward to working with Fox and, for the first time, with Mark Burnett on this year's telecast," John Shaffner, academy chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

The Survivor creator — whose series also include The Celebrity Apprentice and The Voice — added: "As an Emmy Award winner, I know the excitement of standing on the Emmy stage before your peers and the American public to receive that statue. My mission in producing this year's Emmys is to provide the absolutely most memorable television experience for the nominees, the winners and the viewing audience."

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards airs Sept. 18 on Fox.