Internet TV shows get the industry seal of approval
Established TV networks overlooked as online service Netflix bags a host of Emmy nominations
The era of internet television is officially here.
Netflix's House of Cards garnered nine Emmy nominations this week, becoming the first show delivered exclusively online to be nominated in the major categories including drama series, lead actor and lead actress.
The nominations gave instant credibility to Netflix, which scored an additional five nominations for the comedy Arrested Development and the horror series Hemlock Grove, while underscoring the declining influence of the major broadcast networks.
For the second year in a row, the legacy networks failed to land a single nomination in the best drama category. The sole entry from broadcast is the period piece Downton Abbey, which PBS imports from Britain's ITV.
The strong showing by Netflix will undoubtedly prompt others to get in the game, said Brad Adgate, an analyst for ad firm Horizon Media in New York.
"We will see a burst in original series online," Adgate predicted, noting that Hulu, the digital TV service owned by Disney, Comcast and News Corp, has earmarked US$750 million for new programming. "Getting original and exclusive content will help separate the companies."