Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale’s Emmy victory signals trouble for traditional TV

The Atlantic

The streaming service victory could go a long way in unbundling the traditional cable bundle. Broadcast networks have already become increasingly irrelevant with fewer critical darlings. The last Emmy drama winner from a broadcast network happened more than a decade ago, when 24 won for FOX. As Derek Thompson notes, “Hulu’s redoubled attempts to pad their roster will create even more competition in the crowded market for prestige drama, adding to what is already a glut of cinematic television. A superabundance of expensive television shows is good news for streaming networks that are supported by subscriptions, since each new show offers another reason for unconvinced viewers to sign up for the service. But it’s bad news for networks that are supported by advertising, since more shows divided by a stable population means fewer viewers per show. Prestigious awards alone might not cause viewers to cut the cord. But if they contribute to a growing sense that most must-see television is on streaming services, it weakens the pay-TV product and encourages future cord-cutters.”

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