Skip to main content

Netflix pulls historic 31 Emmy nominations, asserts its dominance in original content

HOUSE-OF-CARDS
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The 66th annual Emmy nominations are in, and Netflix made waves for the second year in a row, garnering an impressive 31 nominations. The lofty number more than doubles the streaming titan’s historic 2013 entrance into the Emmy race, in which it raked in 14 nominations to become the first Web-based service to be nominated for its original programming.

House of Cards was again the breadwinner for the service, pulling in 13 nominations this year for its second season, while Netflix’s other ‘it’ show, Orange is the New Black, nipped closely at its heels with 12 nominations. Ricky Gervais also pulled a nod for best actor for his Netflix-commandeered series, Derek. The show is considered a Netflix original, though it initially aired on Brittain’s Channel 4 network.

Other notable entries include a whopping (though not surprising) 99 nominations for HBO, which easily ranked at the top of the field, as usual. The network’s flagship series, Game of Thrones pulled in 19 nominations to lead the pack, while the hit new comedy Silicon Valley, which skewers the opulent and surreal world of the San Francisco tech hub of the same name, also did well with 5 nominations of its own. True Detective also struck gold, pulling 12 nominations, with best actor nods for both Matthew McConaughey, and Woody Harrelson.

HBO’s numbers were down by 9 nominations over last year’s total, however, thanks to more competition in the field, including a massive haul of 45 nominations for FX. The number puts the network up by 20 nominations from last year, with help from its new sleeping giant, Fargo which cleared 18 nominations on its own- the same total, interestingly enough as the entire haul for FX’s sister network, FOX.

Netflix shined today even beyond its original content, thanks to its hosting of Breaking Bad, which gained new life after being re-mastered for streaming on the site in blazing 4K resolution. The Shakespearean drama drew 7 nominations in its last year of eligibilityincluding a sixth nomination for Bryan Cranston for his masterful performance as the ultimate bad breaker, science teacher/meth-empire kingpin, Walter White.

But perhaps the most telling number of the day for Web-based content isn’t 31, it’s zero – as in the number of Emmy nominations awarded to either of Netflix’s primary streaming competitors, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video. While both services have dipped into the waters of original content, neither have had success on par with Netflix. And seeing as Netflix dominates both services when it comes to streaming traffic as well, today’s news only underlines its supremacy in the field.

Whatever your thoughts about the legitimacy of Web-based original content, one thing is certain: for now, Netflix is the undisputed king.

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
We’ve tried them all — these are the best Sonos speakers in 2024
Sonos Move 2 in white.

One of the best speaker brands is Sonos so it’s a smart move to kit your home out with some great Sonos speakers. The range is busy enough that it can be tricky to know where to start. To an extent, any Sonos speaker is sure to delight you with some of the best wireless speakers around coming from Sonos. There’s also the benefit of Sonos’s multi-room system so you can easily get all your speakers to work together across the house. However, certain speakers are better for certain scenarios so a little research is always wise.

Below, we’ve picked out all the best Bluetooth speakers from Sonos. That includes some more affordable options, speakers that can be taken out and about with you, and ones that give you sound that will fill the room with joy. Whatever you pick here, you’re going to love it. A great speaker really does make the ambience at home so much better and you’ll soon notice some details you wouldn’t hear through inferior speakers. Keen to learn more? Let’s get straight into the best Sonos speakers.
The best Sonos speakers in 2024

Read more
JBL sale: Bluetooth speakers, wireless earbuds, and more, from $30
JBL Authentics 300.

JBL is one of the most popular brands in the audio industry, so you shouldn't pass up any chance to enjoy savings when buying one of its devices. If you're on the hunt for Bluetooth speaker deals, wireless earbuds deals, or discounts for any other type of audio device, you should check out what's available in Best Buy's JBL sale. You can get something for as low as $30, but there are bargains for some of JBL's premium products as well. Take a look at our recommendations below or go through everything that's on sale -- either way, you need to hurry because there's no telling how long stocks will last.

What to buy in Best Buy's JBL sale
The JBL Flip 6 portable speaker. JBL / JBL

Read more
Samsung’s new Music Frame smart speaker is essentially $100 off
The front panel of the Samsung Music Frame snaps off so you can swap it out with other artwork.

For a wireless speaker that doubles as an art piece in your bedroom or living room, you should check out the Samsung Music Frame smart speaker. It's available from Best Buy for $400, and every purchase comes with a $100 gift card that you can use on a future Best Buy purchase. That essentially drops the price of the unique device to a more affordable $300, but you better act fast because we're not sure how long this offer will remain available. If you can buy the wireless speaker now, you should probably do so.

Why you should buy the Samsung Music Frame smart speaker
The Samsung Music Frame is a wireless speaker that doubles as an old-fashioned picture frame, so you'll be able to listen to your favorite music while gazing at your photograph or artwork of choice. You have the option of swapping the bezels and the picture whenever you want. Behind the picture are two each of woofers, tweeters, and midrange drivers, which use Samsung's SpaceFit calibration technology to tune themselves according to the acoustics of the room where the Samsung Music Frame is placed. With its compatibility for Dolby Atmos, you'll enjoy rich surround sound.

Read more