Security changes add $1 million to Emmy costs

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- The Emmy Awards show will cost about an extra $1 million because of increased security and a three-week postponement caused by the terrorist attacks, award officials said this week.

Changes to include celebrities in New York as part of the ceremony also increased the cost of the show, which had a $3.5 million production budget, said Jim Chabin, president of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

The ceremony will be held tonight with host Ellen DeGeneres. Celebrities who don't want to travel from New York will gather at an NBC studio for the event.

The estimated $1 million in extra costs will be paid by the academy and CBS, Chabin said.

Despite industry debate over whether to cancel the show because of the attacks, virtually all presenters and nominees have reaffirmed their commitment to take part.

"People are starting to see a certain value in why they should go to the Emmys and why they should be a part of it," academy chairman Bryce Zabel said."Not because it's important necessarily to give out these awards" but because life should go on.