Emmys 2025: Broadcast Networks Hold Their Ground Amid Streaming Surge, ABC Leads with 37 Nominations

Despite the dominance of streaming platforms like HBO Max (142 nominations), Netflix (120), and Apple TV+ (79), the 2025 Emmy Awards are proving that broadcast television still has some serious staying power. In a surprise turn, ABC clinched the No. 4 spot overall with 37 nominations, edging out FX on Hulu and signaling that legacy networks still carry Emmy clout in a shifting industry.

ABC: Steady and Resilient

Even though ABC’s nomination count dropped slightly from 38 last year to 37, it still rose from fifth to fourth place in total Emmy nods, beating out competitors like Peacock, Disney+, and Paramount+. The network’s top contender, Abbott Elementary, secured six nominations, including Best Comedy Series for the fourth year in a row. That makes it the last broadcast comedy consistently holding ground in the top category.

Also notable is ABC’s broadcast of the 97th Oscars, which earned six nominations, including Best Live Variety Special. However, with NBC’s SNL50 anniversary special and Peacock’s SNL50 Homecoming Concert in the running, competition for live variety wins will be fierce. Still, ABC remains the only major broadcaster in the comedy race, a sign of both its enduring relevance and strong creative output.

CBS: Under Scrutiny but Still in the Game

CBS landed 26 nominations, placing eighth overall, but the network has remained in the headlines due to corporate turmoil and the Paramount–Skydance merger. The fallout from Trump’s lawsuit against CBS News and the sudden cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert created media buzz, but ironically, that may work in Colbert’s favor.

Up for Best Talk Series and Best Directing, Colbert now has increased momentum to win his first Emmy since taking over from David Letterman in 2015. Meanwhile, CBS’s unscripted staples The Amazing Race and Survivor picked up six and four nominations, respectively, and Kathy Bates is the clear frontrunner for Best Drama Actress for her role in Matlock.

NBC: SNL Anniversary Leads the Way

NBC remains a strong force in the Emmys conversation, earning 29 nominations, thanks in large part to Saturday Night Live. The show’s 50th season generated 19 nominations — including seven for its weekly format and 12 for its SNL50 anniversary special. An additional six nominations came via Peacock’s SNL50: The Homecoming Concert.

Bowen Yang landed his fifth consecutive nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy, while the SNL franchise’s massive anniversary makes a compelling case for Emmy gold. Still, it will have to unseat John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight, the current king of the Variety Series category.

Meanwhile, NBC’s The Voice scored five nominations, but for the first time since 2012, it was shut out of the Best Competition Program category, signaling a possible downturn in Emmy interest for the long-running series.

Broadcast Networks vs. Streamers: The Big Picture

Though streaming services continue to dominate in overall nomination count, with HBO Max and Netflix leading the pack, traditional broadcast networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS are showing they can still compete creatively and culturally. Only Fox appears to be losing traction, with just seven nominations, the lowest among the major networks.

Final Emmy voting runs from August 18 to August 27, with the ceremony set for September 14. As Emmy voters binge award contenders on streaming platforms, the presence of broadcast content in nearly every major category proves that the old guard isn’t out of the game yet.