Emmy Awards 2020 ceremony to be held online due to pandemic

The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards will be held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The development comes a day after the nominations for the annual award ceremony were announced.

The ceremony, which was originally to be held at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, will now be shot from the participants' homes across the US. It will take place on September 20.

According to Variety, Emmy executive producers, including host Jimmy Kimmel, sent a letter to all the acting nominees, asking them to be prepared to participate in the ceremony from their homes.

"We are assembling a top notch team of technicians, producers, and writers to work closely with Jimmy Kimmel and with you and your team, to make sure that we can film with you (and loved ones or whomever else you choose to be with) at your home, or another location of your choice," the letter read.

"We're going to make you look fabulous we're exploring the cutting edge of technology to allow to use good cameras and lighting and look forward to working with you to produce your unique 'on screen' moments," it continued.

Adding that the world is going through a challenging time and it is not yet safe for everyone to assemble for an event like the Emmys, the letter said, "We'll be producing an event that is filled with warmth and humanity, which celebrates the power of television to bring us together and to help us shape our world. You are an essential part of that story."

As for the dress code, the letter said the nominees have the freedom to decide what to wear given the informal theme of the ceremony. "If you want to be in formal wear, we'd love that, but equally if you're in the UK and it's 3 am, perhaps you want to be in designer pajamas and record from your bed! We want to work with you to style your moments, but want you to guide us on your levels of comfort where you want to be, who you want to be with, what you want to wear, etc."

The letter was signed by Kimmel, as well as fellow executive producers Reggie Hudlin, and Ian Stewart, Guy Carrington and David Jammy from telecast producer Done+Dusted.