Apple TV made a major splash at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, 2026, by winning 29 trophies and surpassing longtime leaders Netflix and HBO. This marked the first time in nearly a decade that a network other than those two topped the Emmys. The show driving this success was the breakout comedy “Widow’s Bay,” which earned Outstanding Comedy Series and a record 14 awards for a first-year comedy, dominating acting, writing, and technical categories.

Matthew Rhys made history by winning two lead actor Emmys in one night—one for “Widow’s Bay” and another for his role in the limited series “The Beast in Me.” Director Hiro Murai also achieved a milestone as the first Asian to win the Emmy for best comedy directing. This level of success highlights Apple TV’s rapid rise since it began producing streaming content in 2019, underscoring its growing influence in the competitive streaming landscape.

Apple’s reputation initially took off with the drama “The Morning Show,” starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, which debuted alongside the #MeToo movement’s momentum. However, comedy has become the platform’s greatest strength, especially after the hit “Ted Lasso,” which accumulated 61 nominations and 13 wins during its first three seasons. This year’s Emmy haul further cements Apple TV’s shift toward dominating comedy, led by “Widow’s Bay.”

In addition to comedy, Apple also won key awards in drama categories with “Pluribus” and “Slow Horses.” “Pluribus” secured best actress in a drama for Rhea Seehorn, while “Slow Horses” took home Outstanding Director for a Drama Series. These wins show Apple TV's expanding prestige across genres, signaling an evolving streaming powerhouse that is now redefining the Emmy awards landscape and challenging traditional leaders in original content production.