Heroes have special powers, such as being able to fly or mind-read

Friday Night Lights, a drama about an American football team, won the award for outstanding new show, while the US version of The Office was best comedy.

There were two prizes each for both The Sopranos and BBC's Planet Earth.

Alec Baldwin and Michael C Hall were named the year's best actors in the comedy and drama categories, for 30 Rock and Dexter respectively.

Superheroes

Heroes has won critical acclaim in the US, and recently received eight nominations for this year's Emmy Awards, due to be handed out in September.

It also took the category of best new drama at the People's Choice Awards in February.

The show, which begins its UK terrestrial run on BBC Two on Wednesday, tells of a group of characters with super-human abilities who are brought together to try to prevent a catastrophe.

The Sopranos, first screened in 1999, ended in the US last month

Mob series The Sopranos was recognised for best drama, as well as picking up a heritage award in the year when it bowed out on US television.

Its creator, David Chase, attended the ceremony in Beverly Hills, along with stars Edie Falco and Lorraine Bracco.

Wildlife documentary series Planet Earth won the news and information category, alongside the prize for movies, mini-series and specials.