I hope we can create a sense that this time the Emmys are less about the horse race

Don Mischer Emmy executive producer

"We're reaching out to our friends in New York to give them as much comfort and security as possible."

More than 100 nominees are based on the east coast, including most of the cast and production team of The Sopranos, which leads the contenders after being named in 22 categories.

The Emmys ceremony was co-hosted from the two cities from 1955, but this will be the first time a New York studio has been involved since the 1970s.

"Linking New York and Los Angeles is very appropriate given what we've been going through in the last few weeks," Emmy executive producer Don Mischer said.

Frasier: Creator David Angell died in hijacked plane

"I hope we can create a sense that this time the Emmys are less about the horse race, less about whether The Sopranos or The West Wing wins the most Emmys, and more about people in the business coming together," Mischer said.

Organisers are planning tributes to those caught up in the bombings.

David Angell, creator of hit comedy Frasier - nominated in three categories - was among those who died.

Unity

There will be no cheering fans, and those attending have been asked to dress in business attire instead of tuxedos and ball gowns.

Opening remarks will be made by veteran newsreader Walter Cronkite, and the traditional post-ceremony ball has been renamed the Unity Dinner.

The main part of the ceremony will come from Los Angeles's Shrine Auditorium, with the New York leg filmed in NBC's Studio 6A, where Late Night with Conan O'Brien is recorded.

Security measures have been described as the tightest in the ceremony's history.