The Television Academy has announced the recipients of the 19th Television Academy Honors, recognizing six standout programs that use television to spotlight urgent social issues and spark cultural conversation.
This year’s honorees include four scripted series and two non-scripted projects selected for their impact across topics ranging from social media harm and disability rights to healthcare systems, political extremism, LGBTQ+ representation, and Black history.
The recipients will be celebrated at a recognition ceremony on Wednesday, May 20, at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center.
“This year’s honorees include compelling programs that address the scourge of social media and online misogyny; disability rights and the fight for deaf representation; end-of-life caregiving and the bureaucracy of cancer treatment; Black history, social justice and racism; political extremism, religious tribalism and media hypocrisy; and LGBTQ+ representation, inclusivity in sports and toxic masculinity,” the Academy noted.
Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego emphasized the growing role of television as a driver of social awareness, calling storytelling “a vital source of information regarding important social issues… and a catalyst for social change.”
Among the honorees is HBO’s Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television, a documentary from HBO Documentary Films, Ark Media, and HOORAE that traces the legacy of Black television through the voices of the creatives who built it. The project highlights generations of Black storytellers—including Debbie Allen, Oprah Winfrey, Issa Rae, Lena Waithe, and Cord Jefferson—while examining how Black creatives have fought for authorship and representation in an industry that has historically limited both.
Other honorees include Netflix’s Adolescence, FX/Hulu’s Dying for Sex, Comedy Central’s South Park, and the documentary Deaf President Now!, all recognized for their cultural impact and exploration of pressing societal issues.
The Television Academy Honors celebrate programming that aired between January 1 and December 31, 2025.