Netflix Strikes Out at Golden Globe Awards

11 Jan, 2016 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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Amazon picks up two awards with ‘Mozart in the Jungle’

Just days after Netflix’s global affirmation at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the subscription streaming pioneer left empty-handed at the 2016 Golden Globe Awards — despite nine nominations.

Instead, Amazon Prime Instant Video, which is attempting to keep pace in content spending and industry accolades, secured two wins with “Mozart in the Jungle,” including Best TV series — Musical or Comedy, and Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy for Gael García Bernal.

Jeffrey Tambor, who gave Amazon its first Globes win last year with “Transparent,” was nominated again this year, in addition to Judith Light — the latter for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (“Transparent”).

Hulu Plus secured its first Best TV Series — Musical or Comedy nomination with “Casual.”

At the Globes (and Emmy Awards), Netflix has been trendsetter for SVOD, securing the market’s first nominations and wins with “House of Cards.” This year was no different as the streaming service earned a first-ever Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture with Idris Elba for original theatrical release Beasts of No Nation.

But with increased industry rumblings about Netflix’s seeming unstoppable clout as content buyer and distributor, CEO Reed Hastings’ noticeable absence at the Globes (Amazon boss Jeff Bezos was there) appeared to underscore the tone of the evening.

Wedbush Securities media analyst Michael Pachter contends Netflix’s lack of Globes hardware was less about industry pushback against the goliath, and more about the flavor of the month.

“I think Amazon arrived late to the party and has made a handful of very good shows, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association tends to favor new over old,” Pachter said. “If they had given an award to Aziz Ansari [for Netflix’s ‘Master of None’] or ‘Narcos,’ I wouldn’t have been surprised, but ‘Orange Is the New Black’ and ‘House of Cards’ are old news and have fallen from favor.”
 

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