And the Winner is... Ernst & Young LLP Begins Tabulating Votes for 63rd Primetime Emmy® Awards

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The votes have been coming in and thousands of Primetime Emmy® Award ballots are due today at the Los Angeles office of Ernst & Young LLP for tabulation to determine the winners of the 63rd Primetime Emmy® Awards, which will be telecast live on FOX on Sunday, September 18, 2011, 5:00 p.m. PST/8:00 p.m. EDT from the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, California.

For the past 23 years, Primetime Emmy® Award winners have remained television's best-kept secret thanks to the efforts of Ernst & Young LLP, part of the global Ernst & Young organization that is a leader in assurance, tax, transaction, advisory services and strategic growth markets.  

"We are extremely proud to be continuing what has become a 23-year tradition for Ernst & Young by maintaining the integrity of the Emmy® Awards tabulation process and the accuracy of the results," said Andy Sale, Ernst & Young LLP, lead partner for the 2011 Emmy® Awards engagement.  "The Emmy® Awards have a far-reaching impact on the television industry and it is critical that the balloting and tabulation process be implemented flawlessly."

Fast facts about the Primetime Emmy® Awards voting, balloting and tabulation process:

• Multiple sets of sealed envelopes containing the names of the winners are transported in separate cars which take different routes to the theater.
• The envelopes never leave the possession of Ernst & Young LLP until they are handed to the presenters just before they walk on stage.
• There has not been a security breach in the 23 years Ernst & Young LLP has been tabulating the votes for the Television Academy.
• Only two Ernst & Young LLP partners have managed the awards process in the firm's 23-year history with the Television Academy.
• Ernst & Young LLP controls the balloting process, beginning with the nomination ballots, and maintains control of ballots throughout the process.
• No one outside of Ernst & Young LLP knows the winners before the show.
• Nominees and winners are triple checked.
• More than 16,000 ballots are mailed to active members of the Television Academy for their participation in the voting process.

About Ernst & Young's Global Media & Entertainment Center

Whether it's the traditional press and broadcast media, or the multitude of digital media, audiences now have more choice than ever before. For media and entertainment companies, integration and adaptability are becoming critical success factors.  Ernst & Young's Global Media & Entertainment Center brings together a worldwide team of professionals to help our clients achieve their potential -- a team with deep technical experience in providing assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services.  The Center works to anticipate market trends, identify the implications and develop points of view on relevant industry issues.  Ultimately it enables us to help our clients meet their goals and compete more effectively.  It's how Ernst & Young makes a difference.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 141,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

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Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limed, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Ernst & Young LLP is a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited serving clients in the U.S.

SOURCE Ernst & Young LLP