DECATUR – Not many stations can call itself “Emmy-Award Winning,” but DCTV Channel 23 is in a category of its own. At the 2007 Southeast Regional Awards Banquet, DeKalb County’s Government Access Station was awarded one of television’s most distinguished honors.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) honored DCTV, under the direction of Diamond Miller Lewis, with its first Emmy in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Television Programming Excellence for Special Events Coverage (Other Than News or Sports). The station was recognized for its 67th edition of “Inside DeKalb,” a 30-minute newsmagazine show, which aired in February 2006 and featured the funeral services of the late Coretta Scott King.

“It is a privilege to be recognized amongst your peers for one of the highest honors in this industry,” says Diamond Miller Lewis, Director of DCTV. “This award speaks to the dedication of my staff and our commitment to quality programming for the citizens of DeKalb County. This is truly a dream realized.”

DCTV competed against locally respected competitors WSB-TV for its coverage of the “Lighting of the Great Tree at Macy’s,” Georgia Public Broadcasting for the “28th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards” and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church for the “Coretta Scott King Funeral” in the same category.

In addition to winning the Emmy award, DCTV has already won nearly 50 national awards including 16 Pegasus Awards for 2007.

Since launching its full programming roster in 2003, DCTV has produced eight different County-related programs and major features, including “Inside DeKalb,” “Let’s Talk DeKalb,” “DeKalb Salutes You,” “ Check It Out,” “Arts, Culture & Entertainment Living” as well as award-winning Public Service Announcements.

On Comcast Cable, DCTV Channel 23 serves as the sole media source of DeKalb County government events and programs, working to inform and entertain the more than 700,000 residents in DeKalb County.

The Southeast Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is a professional membership organization serving Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, & Asheville, North Carolina. With the awarding of the EMMY, television's most coveted peer recognition, the academy encourages talent and ability in composition, creation and performance of works which will improve the quality of television content and performance and generally advances the arts and sciences of television through education and involvement by the general public.