62nd Primetime Emmys to Air on Aug. 29

The Emmy Awards will air a bit earlier next year.

According to Variety, the Emmys telecast date has been moved from mid-September to Sun., Aug. 29.

Paul Telegdy, executive vice president of alternative programming for NBC and Universal Media Studios, said that the early announcement will allow the network and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to get a "head start on creative discussions."

The move to August, which will ensure that NBC avoids any scheduling conflicts with its 'Sunday Night Football' franchise, is not without precedent. In 2006, NBC presented the Emmys in late-August, because of similar football concerns. According to NBC, it was the highest-rated Emmy telecast in the last four years.The Emmy Awards will air a bit earlier next year.

According to Variety, the Emmys telecast date has been moved from mid-September to Sun., Aug. 29.

Paul Telegdy, executive vice president of alternative programming for NBC and Universal Media Studios, said that the early announcement will allow the network and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to get a "head start on creative discussions."

The move to August, which will ensure that NBC avoids any scheduling conflicts with its 'Sunday Night Football' franchise, is not without precedent. In 2006, NBC presented the Emmys in late-August, because of similar football concerns. According to NBC, it was the highest-rated Emmy telecast in the last four years.

The early heads-up was perhaps prompted by the relatively late rescheduling of the Emmy telecast this year, which aired on CBS. The 2009 show was originally set to air on September 20, the same day the network was airing an NFL double-header. In June, CBS announced that the Emmys would be moved one week earlier, on the off-chance that it would be delayed by long-running football game. But when informed that MTV was airing its Video Music Awards on the 13th, with venue and sponsorship agreements already in place, CBS switched the Emmys back to September 20.