CES Partners With International Academy of Web Television For Venetian Event

Last year, this blogger convered the International Academy of Web Television at CES 2013, and while the first-of-its-kind awards program was held during CES, it wasn’t clear if there was an official partnership via press outreach.

This year it’s clear. Moreover, it signals the mainstreaming of web television, which started with such shows as LonelyGirl15, as I talked about with Melanie Merkosky about at the 2012 Inaugural IAWTV Awards.

When CES takes the effort to back an event like this, it’s about more than just the gathering – it’s a sign that the era of PSY, as I will call this year that saw the dramatic explosion in consumption of web video content, has caught the attention of all brands, even those that may have previously poo-pooed the web video entertainment industry.

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has partnered with the International Academy of Web Television (IAWTV) for what it calls an expanded awards program, and held earlier during the CES schedule than before.

The 2013 International CES®, the world’s most important technology event, will be host to the 2013 IAWTV Awards show on January 8 at The Venetian. Owned and produced by CEA, the 2013 International CES will be held January 8-11 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“More than 30,000 entertainment professionals attend the International CES,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president of events and conferences at CES. “The IAWTV Awards is an important new attraction for the content community since it celebrates all the great entertainment created for online audiences. We are thrilled that the IAWTV Awards are returning in an even bigger way at the 2013 CES.”

The IAWTV Awards, voted on the by the membership of the IAWTV, honors and promotes excellence in web television. It is the only show for the creators, by the creators and whose proceeds support the education and promotion of the global online video industry.

Proceeds from the 2012 IAWTV Awards funded a comprehensive series of monthly educational programs in a partnership with YouTube in New York and Los Angeles, which have been recorded for future distribution to the web television community across the world.

“The IAWTV partnership with CEA to host the IAWTV Awards at CES demonstrates the power of native digital video and the impact it has upon consumers, media companies and consumer electronics,” said Paul Kontonis, chairman of the IAWTV. “We will build upon the successes of the 2012 IAWTV Awards and create a platform for all the players of the web television industry at the 2013 CES.”

Kontonis announced that Amber J. Lawson will continue to chair the IAWTV Awards after overseeing a successful inaugural show in 2012. Building upon 33 award categories last year, the 2013 IAWTV Awards will feature two additional categories: Best Live Show and Best Ensemble Cast. The live show will be accompanied by an online broadcast of the ceremony. More than 50,000 web television professionals are expected to tune in to the 2013 online show, double the number of last year’s show.

“2012 has become the year of the original online video; so many new productions have built audiences around fantastic content and community,” said Lawson. “The 2012 IAWTV Awards will recognize excellence on the largest stage, CES, and through these recognizable awards.”