Last week the Television Academy presented the 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, honoring the many artists and craftspeople behind the scenes who create amazing television experiences. Cable programs captured 59 percent of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, not only confirming that some of the greatest television is happening on cable, but also acting as a precursor to this Sunday’s big event: the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards.
When nominations were revealed in July, we pointed to cable’s impressive 315 nominations – more than half of the total available. This is extra impressive as new programming entrants like Netflix and Amazon are providing stiff competition. But unsurprisingly, HBO led all networks in nominations with 126 nods.
In a blog post soon after nominations were announced, we highlighted why cable is so good at creating great TV, including that it supports “narratives that push social boundaries and defy conventional norms.” There’s a lot of truth to that. Many show runners have noted how cable serves as a space where creative freedom reigns. At our 2014 convention, Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner noted how cable has created less pressure for large audiences, leaving writers, actors, and directors to create niche programming. Weiner pointed to The Sopranos as the pioneer, saying that the show “doesn’t have one thing that would get past a focus group,” yet it became a multi-billion dollar franchise, kicking off the golden age of television.
The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards air live this Sunday on Fox. We’ll be watching closely as our favorite shows get honored. Come back to our blog on Monday to see a wrap-up of the awards.