HBO DOMINATED the annual Emmy nominations once again but faced stiffer competition than usual from rival networks that have adopted the premium cable channel's approach to inventive dramatic series.
The network drew 85 nominations, one fewer than last year, mostly for its miniseries, movies and comedies, while its tent-pole dramatic series were largely overlooked by Emmy voters. ABC placed a relatively close second, with 76.
The recognition comes at a transitional period for HBO, which is working to reboot its lineup after the departure of signature programs such as "The Sopranos."
Misfires like last summer's "John From Cincinnati" and low viewership for new series such as "Tell Me You Love Me" fueled perceptions that the channel's lock on zeitgeist television was slipping.
"We're not oblivious to the stories the press have been writing, so it's especially meaningful that in this year we've done as well as we have across all genres," said Michael Lombardo, president of HBO's programming group and West Coast operations.
For all of its recognition Thursday, however, the network's dramatic series were mostly snubbed, garnering only six nominations. "In Treatment" got four nods, including one for lead actor Gabriel Byrne, while Ellen Burstyn was nominated for her work as a guest actress on “Big Love.” “The Wire” was recognized for outstanding writing in its final season, its second Emmy nomination ever.
HBO executives attributed the small number of drama nominations to the stiff competition they face from other cable channels and the broadcast networks, which now embrace the kind of provocative storytelling that HBO once pioneered.
"The landscape has changed dramatically," Lombardo said. "There are a lot of networks making excellent shows. We're excited about it; we're challenged by it."
This marks the eighth year in a row that HBO has won the most Emmy nominations of all television networks. But its margin has been narrowing. In 2004, it swamped the competition with 124 nominations, while runner-up NBC had 65.
Last year, HBO had 86 nods to ABC's 70. This year, second-place ABC had just nine fewer nominations than HBO.
Steve McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment, credited the network's large share of nominations to its relationships "with some of the finest talent in this industry."
