Instead of sending out DVDs to voting members, the Television Academy and Google are, this year, distributing Google Chromecast streaming devices to the entire voting membership of the Emmy's.
Members will receive the Chromecast for free, along with an app that will allow them to stream television shows to their TV.
"This multi-year commitment with Google will provide a superior experience for viewing Emmy-nominated content," said President and COO of the Television Academy, Maury McIntyre. "It also gives our members a great way to view programming across their devices year-round."
Of course, the move is being touted as one that will cut down on waste, and while that is certainly true, there are more advantages than that. For example, the move will significantly cut down on costs involved with creating DVDs and the packaging for those DVDs. Not only that, but DVDs are more prone to piracy than simply streaming a file to a Chromecast.
The Chromecast is not the only alternative to DVDs for screeners. iTunes has been a great way to bring video to those involved in the screening process, as have online viewing options.
The Chromecast itself has been growing in popularity ever since its release as an extremely affordable way to incorporate streaming into the living room. The device costs $35 and allows users to stream content from their smartphones or computers. Of course, there are limits to what it can do, and it has been known to occasionally lose connection, but for the price, it's touted as one of the best streaming devices out there.
Google has also made sure to keep on top of updating the Chromecast and making it available to as many people as possible. The company recently released an Ethernet adapter for the Chromecast, enabling those with less than adequate Internet connections to be able to hardwire their Chromecast.
Not only that, but the Chromecast is also a great option for more than just streaming video content, also enabling users to present PowerPoint presentations through the device and even play games. Google is focusing on offering dual-screen experiences with Chromecast, enabling users to play games on their TV while using their smartphone as a controller.
The news comes as Amazon and other competitors are stepping up their streaming game, with Amazon having recently announced Fling, a way for users to stream content from their devices to their Amazon Fire TV. Fling will also enable developers to create games that can be streamed through the Fire TV.
