The San Diego Chapter was chartered by the National Television Academy in 1972 under the leadership of its founding president, Ralph Hodges. The Chapter began awarding Emmys for outstanding achievement in San Diego area television in 1974.
In 1990 the chapter began awarding Emmys in the Southwest region as the San Diego/Southwestern Area Emmy Awards. In 2001 the name was changed to Pacific Southwest.
The chapter, with close to 450 members, serves television professionals in San Diego, Bakersfield, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria.