ESPN has returned more than 30 Emmys to the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences after the academy learned of a scheme in which the network used fake names to win awards for ‘College GameDay' personalities, the Athletic first reported Thursday.
The Gameday logo and Ohio State and USC helmets during the ESPN College Football Gameday on Sept. ... [+]
ESPN is accused of using fake names for years in its Emmy entries and then, after the network won, having the awards re-engraved with the names of on-air personalities like Shelley Smith, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Chris Fowler, though no evidence suggests the illegitimate winners knew about the scheme, the report says.
According to The Athletic, ESPN submitted fake names for on-air personalities of “College Gameday,” in which they were credited as producers since on-air talent can only technically win individual Emmy awards and Academy rules prevent “double dipping” for the same work.
The Athletic says that while it isn’t clear who exactly headed up the operation, executives Craig Lazarus and Lee Fitting, among other employees, have been barred from future participation in the Emmys over the scheme (Fitting was let go from ESPN last year).
In each of the seven years "College GameDay" won an Emmy—2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018—the Athletic, which is owned by the New York Times, found evidence of the scheme.
ESPN in a statement to the Athletic said it has implemented safeguards to prevent future rule breaking, apologized to the Academy and called the scam a "misguided attempt to recognize on-air individuals who were important members of our production team."
This article will continue to be updated.