Leading and Supporting Actor Emmy Categories for Miniseries/Movies to Be Combined

Changes are in store for the Emmys.

Beginning with the 2013 Emmy Awards, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences will combine the leading and supporting actor categories for miniseries/movies.

The newly merged categories, now called outstanding actor in a miniseries or movie and outstanding actress in a miniseries or movie, will now include six nominees each. Longform categories previously had five nominees each.

Lifetime issued a statement Thursday following the TV Academy’s decision.

“We are disappointed the Academy has followed suit with its decision last year to merge the movie and miniseries categories by now combining the lead and supporting actress and actor categories,” said Rob Sharenow, evp, programming at Lifetime Networks in a statement.

“Movies and miniseries represent some of television’s finest programming and it is our firm belief the industry should honor each category separately The Academy recognizes lead and supporting actresses and actors in other genres — as it should. However, the continued consolidation of the movies and miniseries categories will unnecessarily deny award-worthy films and performances from receiving their proper recognition,” the statement continues.

The news comes after the TV Academy merged the oustanding TV movie and outstanding miniseries categories into one last year.