Netflix, Inc. (NFLX): Can an Emmy Be Streamed Into Hastings’ Office?

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) has taken some chances with its capital investments in producing original serials to go along with the curated streaming content. Netflix took some gambles with “House of Cards” starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, “Hemlock Grove” and the reinstatement of the former  Fox series, “Arrested Development” starring Jason Bateman. (And whether the gambles created a “house of cards” for Netflix was analyzed.) The series have generated some critical acclaim, and “House of Cards” showed itself to be a hugely popular hit with Netflix subscribers.

And apparently, those who vote for the Emmy Awards decided that the gambles by Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) have paid off – the company has provided quality to go with its productions, not just content for the sake of content. Netflix is making a piece of history thanks to the announcements of Emmy nominations Thursday morning. Netflix made history when its “House of Cards” political drama series earned a nomination for Best Dramatic Series, becoming the first online-delivery-only series to be recognized for quality that is alongside any delivered on television, network or cable.

Overall, “House of Cards” received nine Emmy nominations for its first 13-episode season, which was released all at once on Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) during the winter. “Arrested Development,” which had its fourth season produced and released by Netflix in late May, received three nominations, though none were for best comedy series. Bateman, however, is nominated for best actor in a comedy series.

“House of Cards” will have some stiff competition  in hopes of garnering an Emmy for Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) and its Netflix Originals production division, as the drama series is up against last year’s category winner, “Homeland,” as well as four-time award-winning series “Mad Men,” “Game of Thrones” – which earned 16 nominations overall – and popular BBC/PBS series “Downton Abbey.” Spacey and Wright, for their work as Washington power couple Rep. Frank and Claire Underwood in “House of Cards,” each received best actor and actress nominations, respectively.

Spacey will be up against last year’s best-actor winner, Damian Lewis of “Homeland,” Jeff Daniels of “The Newsroom,” and Jon Hamm of “Mad Men,” among others. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is also represented in the best-actress category by Wright, who is against last year’s winner Claire Danes of “Homeland,” along with Elisabeth Mosss of “Mad Men” and Michelle Dockery of “Downton Abbey,” among others.

“American Horror Story: Asylum” earned 17 nominations this year, the most for any series.

What are your thoughts? Do you think Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) gains any cachet with investors like fund manager Carl Icahn (see his full equity portfolio) by getting Emmy nominations? How do you see series like “House of Cards” and “Arrested Development” helping Netflix if these series go beyond nominations and into Emmy victories? Would you invest in a company like Netflix for its quality production value? Let us know in the comments section below.

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