The category was created in 2008 by the board of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to honor telenovelas produced and originally broadcast outside the United States. Until 2007, telenovelas were nominated in the Best Drama Series category of the international competition, such as
Sinhá Moça (2006), which was the first telenovela ever nominated for an Emmy. Brazil's
Globo is the television network with the highest number of nominations — 12 in total — winning in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2020. It also co-produced
Laços de Sangue (2011) with Portuguese network
SIC, which won that year. Considered the most prominent event in the international television industry, the International Emmy Awards recognize excellence in television produced outside the United States, as well as U.S. primetime programs produced in languages other than English. ==Rules and Regulations==