The British Academy Television Awards are given out by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). They are informally known as the BAFTA TV Awards. They have been awarded since 1954. From 1968-1997, the BAFTA TV Awards and the BAFTA Film Awards were presented in one joint ceremony. Since 1998, there have been two separate ceremonies. The film awards are held in February, two weeks ahead of the Academy Awards (Oscars) in America, while the Television awards are held in late May. The BAFTA TV Award is the UK equivalent to the Emmy Award in the United States.