Why Outlander Still Hasn't Won a Single Emmy Award

The Emmys are one of the most prestigious awards in the television industry. Each year, viewers tune in to find out which shows were the best of the past year, according to the voting members. In 2023, the nominees will be announced on 12 July, and the ceremony will be held on 18 September. Amidst the buzz surrounding the awards, there's a huge group of fans asking the same question that's been around for years: Why has Outlander never got a nod from the Emmys?

It may come as a surprise, but aside from four Emmy nominations in smaller categories - music composition (2015), production design (2016), and costumes (2016 and 2018) - the fan-favourite Starz show has never been recognised by industry professionals. And here's why.

Starz is a small network

At least, it was when Outlander premiered in 2014. History shows that nominations often go to projects that have a better online and public presence. As a result, it takes a lot of resources to maintain the hype necessary to get a show in front of the committee, resources that smaller networks often lack.

Genre shows like Outlander tend to be overlooked at the Emmys

Although Outlander is a period drama, it deals with time travel, which is a major driving force of the plot. That makes it a science fiction genre show, and for some reason, the TV Academy often refrains from nominating such shows.

Competition is fierce

The rise of streaming platforms has resulted in hundreds of new shows premiering every year on various platforms. That, of course, means the competition is fierce. In 2023, 163 shows were submitted for the drama series category that Outlander would be up for.

Why will Outlander most likely never win an Emmy?

The answer is simple. If it didn't happen in the early seasons, it's unlikely to happen at all. Outlander is currently airing its penultimate season, and long-running shows winning their first Emmy Awards in later seasons are almost unheard of.

Does it even matter?

The question that every frustrated Outlander fan has to ask is, does the lack of awards make a show worse? Awards aren't necessarily a sign of success. They are often needed to expand the audience for a project. And Outlander has managed to attract a huge, dedicated international fan base simply by being a compelling and beautifully executed story. The love of millions is undoubtedly a much better reward than an Emmy.