Hollywood ? Despite the difficulties that have faced the Latin Grammys, plans are being discussed about the feasibility of establishing a Latin Emmy Awards, with talks under way between the television academies in New York and Los Angeles.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, based in New York, is enthusiastically backing the idea and has talked with the two major Spanish-language U.S. networks, Univision and Telemundo, about sharing the broadcast.

The New York academy wants to position the event as a joint venture between the two nonprofit organizations, which split acrimoniously in the 1970s but have been exploring areas in which they can work together more closely since the death of the eastern academy’s longtime president, John Cannon, last year.

“We realize the fastest-growing area of the television business, Spanish-language television, is underrepresented in our awards and underrepresented in our business,” said Peter Price, president of the national academy.

However, officials at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in North Hollywood are approaching the idea with caution, saying they are still “in the fact-gathering stage,” determined to ensure that such an event can work logistically in terms of exercising control over judging procedures and awards criteria.

The tentative plan would be for the awards to recognize Spanish-language programs in a full range of categories, including prime-time soap operas (or telenovelas), news and sports.

Among the concerns privately expressed is whether creating a specialized Latin Emmy marginalizes Spanish-language programs, which compete alongside English-language newscasts in local Emmy competitions. Ratings are also an issue.