The Television Academy announced today that its Board of Governors has re-elected Cris Abrego to serve a second consecutive term as chair, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The Academy also announced its newly elected officers and governors who will serve on the board for the 2026-2027 term.
The Academy also announced its newly elected officers and governors who will serve on the board for the 2026-2027 term.
Abrego's first term marked a period of meaningful institutional progress and strategic gains for the organization. Under his leadership, the Academy achieved record membership and retention, now representing more than 27,000 television professionals across 31 peer groups. He also oversaw the launch of Televerse, the Academy's inaugural multi-day public-facing television festival; advanced the Academy's industry advocacy work, including direct engagement with policymakers in Washington D.C.; and strengthened the Innovation Advisory Committee, broadening member education around AI and emerging technology.
During his tenure, the Academy also partnered with its broadcast partners to expand the reach and viewership of the Emmys telecast, which resulted in two consecutive years of ratings increases, first on ABC and then on CBS.
A veteran studio executive and producer, Abrego is co-founder and chief executive officer of Hyphenate Media Group, a premium content studio and holdings company. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of Banijay Americas and prior to that, Chairman and CEO of Endemol Shine North America. Early in his career, he
co-founded 51 Minds Entertainment, where he pioneered the celeb-reality genre and built that company into a leading force in the burgeoning unscripted business before its acquisition by Endemol five years later.
"I'm honored to continue in this role," Abrego said. "The past two years have underscored the vital role that the Academy serves in supporting our members, strengthening the television community, and advancing the initiatives that support the long-term health of our industry. I look forward to working alongside our newly elected officers and governors as we build on this momentum and continue guiding the Academy and the Emmy Awards through a dynamic period of transformation for our industry."
The incoming officers, elected by the Board of Governors, who will serve a two-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027, are: Jacob Fenton (Professional Representatives), Vice Chair; Jo DiSante (Television Executives), 2nd Vice Chair; Megan Chao (Documentary Programming), Secretary; and Tony Carey (Producers), Treasurer.
Additionally, the Academy's newly elected governors, who will serve a two-year term through 2027, are listed by peer group here along with their co-governors who continue to serve two-year terms ending Dec. 31, 2026.
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CONTACT:
Jim Yeager
breakwhitelight (for the Television Academy)
jim@breakwhitelight.com
818.264.6812 (mobile)
For the complete press release, click here.