Streaming platforms dominated the 2021 Emmys Sunday night, with Netflix, HBO/HBO Max, Disney+ and Apple TV+ topping the list of winners — highlighting the shift away from traditional broadcast in the TV business.
Netflix, buoyed by hit series “The Crown” and “The Queen’s Gambit” took home a whopping 44 trophies, tying the 47-year record for most Emmys won in a single year set by CBS in 1974.
Meanwhile, across its cable channel and its matching streaming service, HBO and HBO Max landed scored 19 Emmys, helped by “Mare of Easttown” and “Hacks.”
Disney+, driven by “The Mandalorian,” finished third overall with 14 awards, followed by Apple TV+ with 10, thanks to breakout hit “Ted Lasso.”
Notably, the streaming platforms swept the three most prestigious awards of outstanding comedy series, drama series and limited or anthology series.
Apple’s “Ted Lasso” won best comedy while Netflix’s “The Crown” and “The Queen’s Gambit” won best drama and best limited/anthology series, respectively, topping off Big Tech’s domination of the evening.
It marks a major change from not long ago, when streaming platforms weren’t considered serious contenders for academy awards.
Hulu became the first streaming service to stake a claim to one of the three major Emmy awards in 2017 when “The Handmaid’s Tale” was named best drama.
Amazon followed that up with “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Fleabag” winning best comedy in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
