The number of acceptance speeches at US TV's top awards ceremony, the Emmys, is being cut by organisers who want to attract more viewers.
Some winners will have short taped interviews played instead of spontaneous on-stage remarks.
TV actors will be exempt from the plans, approved by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences – but writers and directors are affected.
The awards will be presented at a Los Angeles ceremony on 18 September.
Academy chairman and chief executive Dick Askin said the ceremony would continue to recognise the best in TV but at a "better pace".
'Invigorated' show
"We have set a course which we believe will result in a new and invigorated Emmy Awards telecast," he said.
Last year, the Emmys sank to their second-lowest ratings ever, drawing fewer than 14 million viewers for the three-hour show.
The 2002 ceremony, which was 15 minutes longer, was watched by almost 20 million.
The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' board of governors approved the plans but backed away from a proposal to reduce the number of awards.
Eight writing and directing categories are initially affected but the new approach may also be expanded to some other categories.
The plan met some resistance from industry unions whose approval was required.
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