Netflix and The Crown win big at the Emmys – but the competition grows stronger

Olivia Colman in The Crown
(Image credit: Netflix)

It’s been a peculiar year for television, but last night’s Primetime Emmy Awards proved there’s quality programming to be enjoyed on almost all of the major streaming services.

Netflix and The Crown reigned supreme at the 73rd annual ceremony, with the latter scooping a clean sweep of awards in the drama categories, but HBO, Disney and Apple all took home trophies for their original shows, too.

Ted Lasso and The Mandalorian, for instance, each nabbed seven awards, making them joint-third (after The Crown, The Queen’s Gambit and Saturday Night Live) for the series with the most wins (11) on the night. 

Ted Lasso’s award for breakout comedy marked the first win for Apple TV Plus in a series category, as the streamer continues its push towards big-budget original programming, while HBO – and its HBO Max platform – scooped 19 wins across the Primetime and Creative Arts ceremonies, with Mare of Easttown scoring four.

But with 44 awards across all categories, Netflix once again proved itself king of the streamers by tying the Emmys record for most wins in a single year. The Crown provided the bulk of those awards, but The Queen’s Gambit also added several limited series wins to ensure the service ended the night top of the pile in two of the top three categories – a feat it has never previously achieved. 

There were a few surprises, though, dispelling fears that the Emmys had become something of a vanity ceremony for the industry’s old hands.

Evan Peters, for instance, snagged a supporting actor trophy for Mare of Easttown, while HBO comedy Hacks took home a leading actress award for Jean Smart, as well as writing and directing wins for showrunner Lucia Aniello.

As for the night’s overlooked shows, HBO’s Euphoria and Westworld missed out on deserving technical awards, though both will again be eligible for next year’s ceremony, along with their respective upcoming new seasons. The awards has also been criticized on social media for a lack of diversity in this year's winners. 

2022 will mark an exciting year for television across the board, too. Apple will look to build on its momentum with the arrivals of new shows Foundation and The Shrink Next Door, while Netflix and Disney Plus will see the return of Stranger Things and The Mandalorian to their respective libraries. 

It’s unclear whether HBO’s Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon will arrive in time for next year, though the slim chance it may coincide with the release of Amazon’s much-anticipated (and uber-expensive) Lord of the Rings show should have fantasy fans chomping at the bit. 

Who needs new movies, anyway?

Axel Metz
Phones Editor

Axel is TechRadar's UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site's Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.  Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.

Read more
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody on a couch looking at each other with a laptop in front of them
Disney Plus had two of the most-streamed shows of 2024 – here are the 3 I recommend watching on Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video
Belle Gibson wearing red lipstick and smiling at the camera with a microphone in front of her in Apple Cider Vinegar.
Best Netflix shows: 54 great TV series to watch in February 2025
Mark S holding a red ball while smiling and sitting down in Severance season 2
5 returning TV shows I’m most excited to stream in 2025
Two phones side by side with the Netflix and Apple TV Plus apps displayed
Netflix vs Apple TV Plus: which streaming service is the most entertaining?
A close up of Oz Cobb sitting at a table with a glass of whiskey in The Penguin
The 2025 Golden Globes has kicked off awards season - here are 5 wins that surprised me the most
A remote with Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services running as buttons.
Best streaming service 2025: Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV Plus, Prime Video, and more compared
Latest in Netflix
The cast of Black Mirror season 7
Everything new on Netflix in April 2025 – including Black Mirror season 7 and Love on the Spectrum
Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Liliard and Linda Cardinelli in Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Netflix is firing up the Mystery Machine with a live action Scooby-Doo series
The cast of The Residence peek from a doorway
Netflix's #2 most-watched show is the new madcap whodunnit The Residence –here are 3 more mysteries to stream next
Netflix Ads
Netflix adds HDR10+ support – great news for Samsung TV owners, but don't expect LG and Sony to do the same any time soon
Wonka poster
Netflix cooks up sweet new reality TV series based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and it's a dream come true for me
Eddie Miller (Stephen Graham) looks as his anxious son Jamie (Owen Cooper) in a prison cell.
Netflix's #1 show Adolescence is one of the best crime dramas I've seen – here are 3 more with over 80% on Rotten Tomatoes
Latest in News
cheap Nintendo Switch game deals sales
Nintendo didn't anticipate that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was 'going to be the juggernaut' for the Nintendo Switch when it was ported to the console, according to former employees
Three angles of the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4 laptop above a desk
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review roundup – should you buy Apple's new lightweight laptop?
Witchbrook
Witchbrook, the life-sim I've been waiting years for, finally has a release window and it's sooner than you think
Amazon Echo Smart Speaker
Amazon is experimenting with renaming Echo speakers to Alexa speakers, and it's about time
Shigeru Miyamoto presents Nintendo Today app
Nintendo Today smartphone app is out now on iOS and Android devices – and here's what it does
iPhone 13 mini
The iPhone mini won't be returning, according to rumors – and you think that's a mistake