The Emmy Awards are prestigious annual awards presented to recognize outstanding achievement in the television industry in the United States. They are awarded for excellence in various categories, including dramatic series, comedy series, limited series, variety, music, talk shows, and technical and creative arts. The awards are given by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, each responsible for different segments of the Emmy Award ceremonies. The Emmy statuette depicts a winged woman holding an atom, symbolizing art and science in television. Winners are chosen by members of the academy, who vote only within their own disciplines. The Emmy Awards cover a broad spectrum of television programming, including primetime, daytime, sports, news, documentary, children's, and international productions, making it one of the four major American entertainment awards alongside the Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. The Emmys have been awarded since 1949 and continue to be a significant marker of success in the television industry.