Netflix Tops HBO In Emmy Wins For First Time Ever

As cable was to broadcast during the mid-2000s to 2010s, streaming networks are quickly becoming to cable in the 2020s.

The story of the 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards quickly became how many awards the streamers racked up — including a historic first for Netflix NFLX , which has been an awards show darling for a few years.

Netflix finished as the most-awarded channel for the first time ever with 44 trophies. HBO was a distant second at 19.

It had 34 wins entering the evening, thanks to last week’s Creative Arts Emmys. Though the streamer trailed HBO in total nominations (HBO was helped by counting nominations from streaming service HBO Max), HBO only won 10 Creative Arts Emmys. Netflix’s 10 victories Sunday night were enough to help it past HBO in wins for the first time ever. The two tied for most wins in 2018.

This year, with Apple TV+’s AAPL Ted Lasso also becoming a multi-award-winner, it became clear that streaming networks really have become the class of the golden age of television. From comedies to dramas to even variety specials and limited series/movies, the streamers dominated.

HBO did pick up its usual great number of awards, though not as many as usual; you can blame in part COVID-19-related production delays that left voter favorites like Succession. Last Week Tonight With John Oliver still won, of course, and breakout star Michaela Coel earned the first limited series writing Emmy for a Black woman for I May Destroy You.

The broadcast networks were even more of an afterthought. Aside from a couple variety show wins for NBC’s Saturday Night Live and Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020, broadcasters had a dull evening.

Streamers did not. While Netflix continued its run of strong Emmy performances dating back to House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, Apple TV+’s success was new. It earned 11 trophies overall.

The streamer launched in 2019 with lots of hype for The Morning Show, but the pandemic quickly dampened that excitement; the program just returned with season two last week, nearly two years after its debut.

Still, despite some fits and starts, Apple TV+ began gathering buzz last year for the first season of a sweetly positive show called Ted Lasso. About an unqualified American who becomes coach of a British football team, the comedy presented a message of kindness that has resonated in unkind times. The Television Academy was into it.

Lasso won four major Emmys, including three for acting and one for Best Comedy.

Netflix’s Crown swept the drama acting categories as well as best drama. Olivia Colman played the queen in the series, adding an Emmy to the Golden Globe she picked up earlier this year.

Queen’s Gambit also earned outstanding limited series.

Disney+ earned the third-most trophies with 14.