Emmy awards 2013: Netflix's House of Cards makes history with first web-only drama nomination

The show, starring Kevin Spacey, got nine nominations in total

‘House of Cards’, with Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright

House of Cards has made TV history, becoming the first web-only show nominated for an Emmy award for top drama.

The political thriller - based on a 1990 British miniseries of the same name - has bagged a total of nine nods, including one for top drama.

The show's 13-episode first series starred Oscar winner Kevin Spacey as Machiavellian congressman Frank Underwood, and Kate Mara as political journalist Zoe Barnes.

It was Netflix's first foray into original programming, and was executive produced by Fight Club and The Social Network director, David Fincher.

The whole series was made available to Netflix subscribers online in one batch.

Of today's news, Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix, said: "It's really groundbreaking. It's beyond our most bold expectations.

"We were thinking a single nomination would be a win... It's as much a win for internet television as it is for the content creators."

So far internet shows have popped up only in lower-profile categories.

Spacey was also nominated for best actor, while Robin Wright, who plays his equally driven wife, got a best actress nomination.

Joining House of Cards and Game of Thrones in the best drama series category are Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Mad Men and last year's winner, Homeland.

The major broadcast networks were shut out of the prestigious category, a repeat of last year and a particular blow with the entry of Netflix's streamed drama.

Another Netflix series, Arrested Development, didn't earn a best comedy series nomination but scored three nods, including one for star Jason Bateman. Some pundits thought it might earn online's first best comedy series nod, given that it won that category before Fox cancelled it.

"It certainly is a marker of the new era. ... It will send shock waves through the industry," said Tim Brooks, a TV historian and former network executive, predicted on the eve of the nominations.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on September 22.

Video: Game of Thrones stars Maisie Williams and Joe Dempsie talk about the series