Streaming service Hulu made Emmy history on Sunday by becoming the first digital platform to win a top series award with its dystopian saga “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Streaming service Hulu made Emmy history on Sunday by becoming the first digital platform to win a top series award with its dystopian saga &ldquo-The Handmaid&rsquo-s Tale.&rdquo-
The Hulu series adapted from Margaret Atwood&rsquo-s 1985 book won best drama, the most prestigious award of the night, and seven other awards including best drama actress for Elisabeth Moss.
The recognition at TV&rsquo-s highest honors was a breakout moment for Hulu, which had failed to win the critical acclaim and buzz generated by Netflix Inc and Amazon.com Inc as streaming services uprooted traditional Hollywood. &ldquo-Handmaid&rsquo-s Tale&rdquo- triumphed over Netflix&rsquo-s supernatural thriller &ldquo-Stranger Things,&rdquo- NBC&rsquo-s &ldquo-This is Us&rdquo- and others.
Overall, longtime Emmy heavyweight HBO won the most awards with 29 wins, even without its mega-hit &ldquo-Game of Thrones.&rdquo- The reigning best drama winner was not eligible because it aired too late in the year for consideration.
HBO&rsquo-s &ldquo-Veep&rdquo- took home the best comedy trophy for the third straight year, and &ldquo-Big Little Lies&rdquo- was named best limited series.
&ldquo-Thank you to HBO for never wavering in your belief in us,&rdquo- star Nicole Kidman said on stage as she accepted the award for best actress in a limited series. HBO is owned by Time Warner Inc.
The prestige and publicity surrounding the Emmys can help networks attract new viewers in a crowded TV marketplace where broadcasters, cable channels and digital platforms are battling for audiences.
&ldquo-Handmaid&rsquo-s Tale&rdquo- already has drawn more new subscribers to Hulu than any other original or acquired show, Hulu said at a Television Critics Association event in July.
Its creators said Hulu reaped the rewards by taking on a risky proposal.
Writer Bruce Miller credited Hulu with supporting a controversial series about a society in which women are forced into sexual servitude. Hulu is owned by traditional media companies Walt Disney Co, 21st Century Fox, Comcast Corp and Time Warner.
&ldquo-There were so many times I presented something or pitched something,&rdquo- Miller told reporters backstage, &ldquo-and I was sure they were going to say there was no way you can do that on television.&rdquo-
&ldquo-They were always enthusiastic and encouraging,&rdquo- he added. &ldquo-It&rsquo-s not an easy show to make. It&rsquo-s rough stuff. They were brave and committed to making the book into a television show.&rdquo-
Netflix won 20 Emmys including best supporting drama actor for John Lithgow in &ldquo-The Crown&rdquo- and best comedy writing &ldquo-Master of None.&rdquo-
Broadcast network NBC, owned by Comcast, won 15 awards. Its comedy sketch show &ldquo-Saturday Night Live&rdquo- collected nine.
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