The Television Academy became the first major Hollywood organization to eliminate distribution of DVD screeners, announcing today that the screeners will not be a part of the 2020 Emmy Awards cycle for nominations and awards voting.

“The move is aimed at saving the television industry tens of millions of dollars, while also positively impacting the environment via elimination of waste,” the academy said in its announcement, adding that the move “keeps pace with technological advancements in content delivery and the viewing trends of Academy members. In 2020, screening of eligible programs will take place exclusively on digital platforms hosted by the production and distribution entities or on the Television Academy’s viewing platform.”

Newly elected Television Academy Chairman Frank Scherma is quoted in the announcement saying: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the academy to take an important first step to move the industry forward in an area of great concern for both our partners and members, reducing costs and delivering a tremendous positive impact for the environment. Television has an ever-expanding role as the world’s most innovative and popular entertainment medium, and this decision embraces the evolution of viewing practices and preferences of the academy’s 25,000 members and the industry at large.”

The organization’s board of governors formally adopted the plan to facilitate proactively and effectively communicating the change throughout the industry, the academy said, including “helping partners and vendors involved in Emmy Award planning and promotion understand and assist in the transition.”

The new policy goes into effect following the 71st Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019.