Emmy Awards Enter Streaming Era With Move To Amazon Prime Video
The Emmy Awards are moving to Amazon Prime Video in 2027 under a six-year agreement with the Television Academy, ending more than seven decades of broadcast television coverage of the annual ceremony. The partnership will make Prime Video the exclusive global home of the awards, with the ceremony available to viewers for free in more than 240 countries and territories.
The move marks a major shift for one of television’s most established awards shows, which has aired on broadcast networks since 1955. The agreement also ends the “wheel deal”, a decades-long arrangement in which ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox rotated the rights to broadcast the ceremony.
Under the new partnership, the 79th Primetime Emmy Awards in September of 2027, will be the first ceremony streamed through Prime Video. Viewers will not need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch, allowing the awards to remain accessible to audiences worldwide.
The Television Academy said the agreement will provide a consistent platform for the ceremony and create new opportunities to engage audiences. With a dedicated streaming partner, the organization hopes to expand the Emmys’ global reach while building stronger connections with viewers, advertisers, and the entertainment industry.
The transition comes as traditional television networks face declining audiences for major awards shows. The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, which aired on NBC in September 2026, attracted nearly 7 million viewers, a decline of approximately 10% from the previous year. Meanwhile, streaming platforms have become increasingly influential in television production and in the programs the Academy recognizes.
For Amazon, the agreement expands Prime Video’s investment in live programming and high-profile entertainment events. The company will have an opportunity to connect audiences with television talent and series across its streaming platform, while positioning itself as a central destination for the industry’s annual celebration of television excellence.
The Emmys’ move also reflects a broader shift in awards show distribution. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences previously announced that the Oscars will move to YouTube in 2029, ending their longstanding relationship with ABC. Netflix has also streamed the Screen Actors Guild Awards, now known as the Actor Awards, since 2024.
Although the Emmys will initially retain their traditional September schedule, the Television Academy has indicated that future changes to the awards calendar remain possible as it considers ways to reach broader audiences.
The six-year agreement signals a new chapter for the Emmys as the television industry continues to adapt to changing viewing habits. With Prime Video providing a permanent streaming home, the Academy aims to modernize the ceremony’s distribution while preserving its role in recognizing excellence across television.