1st Primetime Emmy Awards

The 1st Emmy Awards, retroactively known as the 1st Primetime Emmy Awards after the debut of the counterpart Daytime Emmy Awards, were presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club in Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 25, 1949. Only shows produced in Los Angeles County, California and aired in the Los Angeles media market were eligible to win. The awards were hosted by Walter O'Keefe who substituted for Rudy Vallée when he had to leave town at the last minute. A special award category was introduced and awarded to Louis McManus for designing the actual Emmy Award statuette.

Winners and nominees
Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡).

Station Award

 * KTLA for Outstanding Overall Performance in 1948

Special Award
McManus was presented with a plaque as an award instead of a copy of the very statue which he was being honored for.
 * Louis McManus – for designing the Emmy Award statuette.

Technical Award

 * Charles Mesak of Don Lee Television for the introduction of TV camera technology Phasefader