The Star Trek franchise is set to receive the prestigious Governor Award from the Television Academy.
The news was announced today by the Television Academy, with the organization confirming the visionary science-fiction television franchise would be recognized for its legacy of boldly propelling science, society and culture where no one has gone before.
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Star Trek was first created in 1966 by visionary writer-producer Gene Roddenberry, and went on to launch a long-lasting franchise that continues to thrive well over 50 years later, with more than 700 combined episodes and 13 movies. Since its inception, the Star Trek franchise has garnered more than 30 Emmy Awards. The Governor Award will be presented to CBS Television Studios during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 8.
“Star Trek is the first television program I can remember watching as a child, and has always been ahead of its time,” said Governors Award Committee Chair Mark Spatny.” Not only have all the franchises promoted inclusiveness and acceptance of all people, and inspired creative thought about space exploration and our future, but the technical innovations sparked by the franchise are incredibly significant to the evolution of television production, and also to the communication and computer tools we use in our daily life. We are honored to present this award to a franchise that has made such a lasting contribution to both television and our society.”
One of the reasons Star Trek has proven to be a cultural mainstay is because the franchise has always provided an optimistic depiction of a diverse and just future, and helped to craft significant visual and special effects innovations that are still viewed as the standard today.
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Along with two different Star Trek films in various stages of development, CBS has revived the long-lasting franchise on the small screen with Star Trek: Discovery, which will return for Season 2 next year, and a brand-new series centered around Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Those that can’t wait until 2019 for more Trek, however, will soon be able to get their fix as CBS All Access will soon begin offering Star Trek: Short Treks, a four-part monthly series of 10-15 mini episodes showcasing different characters, too.