MUMBAI: The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has announced that Hasbro Studios, the Los Angeles-based production and distribution division of Hasbro, will serve as a presenting partner of its new International Emmy Kids Awards.
The previously announced awards ceremony, which breaks new ground for the Academy, will be solely dedicated to recognising excellence in children‘s television programming produced and initially aired outside of the US.

Iatas president, CEO Bruce L. Paisner said, "We are delighted that Hasbro Studios and its president, Stephen Davis, saw the importance of these new International Emmys and stepped forward as a presenting partner. We thank Stephen, a respected industry veteran, for his support."

The inaugural awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in February 2013 in New York City.

Davis said, "We are honored to join with the premier international awards organisation in recognising the outstanding work of top kids‘ programmers from around the world. The international community has come into its own as a producer of high-quality animated and live-action shows for the young audience. It is ready for the Academy‘s spotlight."

Six new categories have been created for this event: Kids: Preschool; Kids: Animation; Kids: Factual; Kids: Non-Scripted Entertainment; Kids: Series; and Kids: TV Movie/Mini-Series.