FACTBOX: Best of world TV vies for International Emmys

(Reuters) - The best of world television vied for honors on Monday at the 35th annual International Emmy Awards which recognize excellence in TV programming produced outside the United States with 38 nominees in 9 categories.

British TV productions led the pack with eight nominations followed by Brazil with seven, Japan with four, South Africa with three and Germany, Denmark, China and the Netherlands with two nominations each. Colombia received its first nomination.

Following are some facts about the awards given by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:

* The international academy has more than 550 members in nearly 70 countries.

* The academy, founded in 1969, says it is the largest organization of global broadcasters. The academy's mission is to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States, and it presents the International Emmy Award to programs in 14 categories.

* To be eligible for the international Emmys, a program must have been originally created for television and have been predominately produced by a company that is based outside of the United States. A show must not have been nominated in the U.S. Emmy competition.

* Each year, the academy produces the International Emmy World Television Festival and the International Emmy Awards Gala in New York City.

Source: The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/www.iemmys.tv