Emmy-nominated Netflix shows combat TV market

The 2013 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will take place Sept. 22 and showcase not only television shows, but now made-for-Netflix content.

Among the nominees is original content from Netflix, a company that started out as a DVD rental service. Two new series, “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black,” have been generating buzz in the realm of entertainment.

With new and original content created for Netflix and so many nominations, the world of television may have reason to worry.

Aimee Lynn L’Eplattenier, an entertainment media technology major, said Netflix will not have an immediate effect on television.

“People still like the ‘live’ aspect of television, as well as the community aspect,” L’Eplattenier said. “Netflix will still give television a run for its money. I don’t think that there is a high probability of winning for the Netflix series. Television is still too high in the Emmy hierarchy. It’s what it is for after all.”

Jason Flynn, assistant professor of film and digital media in the department of communications, said those in television should not be worried.

“Somewhere along the way, use of the word ‘TV’ was used primarily as a reference to the type of entertainment and information programs broadcast to our homes,” Flynn said. “Eventually, the content options expanded into more and more niches. Now, those products can be viewed in a variety of ways on many devices, which is how ‘TV’ should be referred to, as a device, one of many options of machinery that consumers have as an option for receiving transmissions.”

Netflix’s strategy to become a major contender within the television viewing market is unsurprising, Flynn said.

“A company with a distribution outlet is creating their own content for consumers in an effort to strengthen their brand and profit,” he said. “Netflix had to earn their way into the market, but now that they’re players, they won’t be able to put traditionally built networks out with their new programs, but it is a good indicator of their ever-increasing abilities.”

“House of Cards” is nominated for Emmys in the categories of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series.

“‘House of Cards’ has a lot of legitimate competition in these categories, particularly from ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Breaking Bad’ in its final season,” Flynn said. “I don’t see ‘House of Cards’ winning either of those this year. The best chance for Netflix to take an award would be in one of the performance categories.”

A report from CNN Money estimates the cost of producing and creating “House of Cards” at $100 million. That’s roughly $3.84 million an episode for the first two seasons, a total of 26 episodes.

According to Variety News, “Orange is the New Black” costs an estimated $4 million an episode, or about $49 million in its first season.

Compared to other Emmy-nominated TV shows, such as HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” the Netflix show budgets are minimal. The “Game of Thrones” cost a reported $10 million according to E News, with an average $6 million budget per episode. “Game of Thrones” is up against “House of Cards” in the categories of Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.

The 2013 Primetime Emmy Award ceremony is set to broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.