'Orange Is the New Black' locked as 'drama' in Emmys

TV series "Orange Is the New Black" will compete at the 2015 Primetime Emmy Awards in the drama category, after a petition for it to be shifted to the comedy slug, was denied.

The TV Academy denied streaming service Netflix's petition to consider "Orange Is the New Black" a comedy in this year's Emmy race. The show, which competed as a comedy at last year's Emmys, will have to compete as a drama, and its actors, writers and director too will compete in drama categories.

The organisation has officially announced the decision, just days after granting petitions that "Shameless", "Jane the Virgin", and "Glee" should be considered dramas at the awards show, reports variety.com.

"Orange Is the New Black" earned a total of 12 nominations last year. The series won in three categories, including one for guest actress Uzo Aduba.

It was considered a comedy at this year's Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards and won best comedy ensemble as well as female actor in a comedy for Aduba.

Netflix had petitioned the Academy for a waiver, per the new rules that deemed half-hours as comedies and hour-longs as dramas. Earlier this week, the Academy had granted petitions by hour-long shows like "Glee", "Shameless" and "Jane the Virgin" to be considered comedies.