Netflix, AOL and Crackle were among the digital-first video producers to get recognized with a slew of Emmy nominations which were announced yesterday.   Netflix received several nominations for its big budgeted series.    In the category of Outstanding Short-Form, Nonfiction Program, Crackle’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and AOL’s  Park Bench With Steve Buscemi, both received nominations.

For AOL, this is the first time one of its web originals have been nominated for an Emmy.   The show was debuted  this spring as part of the AOL NewFront slate.   At the time of the debut, we sat down with AOL video chief Ran Harnevo about the new slate and the company’s role as a content creator and distributor.  We have republished that interview today.

In a statement on the yesterdays nomination, Harnevo said:

“We’re humbled and pleased by this nomination, as it validates our steadfast commitment to creating premium shows with authentic voices. We’ve built our video strategy around taking quality content and pairing it with innovative distribution models to create scale and awareness on every screen, from TV to mobile. Great content is great content, regardless of length, delivery, or the device on which it’s viewed, and it’s rewarding to see that the industry is recognizing quality short-form digital content at the most prestigious awards in television.”