In a major pivot for one of American television’s premier award shows, the Emmy Awards are departing traditional broadcast TV for Prime Video. The Television Academy and Amazon made the announcement regarding the six-year partnership on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
This arrangement establishes Prime Video as the exclusive global destination for the Emmys, starting with the 2027 ceremony. The event will still be broadcast live every September and, crucially for audiences, will be accessible to watch without requiring a Prime Video subscription.
This agreement concludes the multi-network rotation model previously shared by ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. The transition highlights the rising power of streaming services as legacy broadcast networks grapple with shrinking viewership and stiffer competition for high-profile live broadcasts.
Prime Video Becomes the Emmys’ Global Home
Through this pact, Prime Video will carry the Emmy Awards live across more than 240 countries and territories. The 2027 event marks the debut of the collaboration, though the monetary details of the six-year contract were kept private.
According to the Television Academy, securing a dedicated, long-term partner offers greater stability compared to the past rotating setup. Rather than resetting promotional and production partnerships annually with a new network, the Academy and Amazon will have the opportunity to build the event collaboratively across several years.
Emmys Leave the Broadcast TV Era
This transition brings an end to a decades-old broadcast legacy. The Emmys have been televised by a major US broadcast network annually since 1955, with the ABC-CBS-Fox-NBC rotation serving as the standard format for many years.
The move aligns with the television industry’s broader pivot toward streaming. Because a large share of Emmy-nominated programs and talent now originate on streaming services, Prime Video’s role as an international distributor serves as a logical progression for the event.
Amazon Eyes Younger, Global Audiences
For Amazon, the contract incorporates another high-profile live spectacle into Prime Video’s expanding media lineup, which already encompasses sports and additional live broadcasts. The corporation aims to leverage its worldwide footprint to draw in younger demographics and expand the Emmys’ viewership base over time.
Additionally, the Television Academy intends to collaborate with Amazon beyond the scope of the yearly broadcast. Prime Video is anticipated to assist in marketing Emmy-nominated titles and engaging viewers with the awards throughout the entire year.
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This development mirrors a wider industry trend of major award ceremonies migrating to digital platforms, highlighted by the Oscars’ scheduled move to YouTube beginning in 2029. For the Emmys, the six-year pact with Prime Video demonstrates that streaming has evolved past being merely an alternate delivery method and is now a primary venue for television’s top celebrations.
