Emmys leave traditional broadcast television for first time since 1955
Amazon Prime Video has secured exclusive global rights to stream the annual Emmy Awards under a six-year deal, ending the ceremony’s seven-decade run on traditional US broadcast television, according to BBC News reporting on Monday.
Starting in 2027, the agreement replaces a rotation of the gala among major networks — ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC — that has placed the show on legacy broadcast television since 1955. Under the new arrangement, the ceremony will stream live for free worldwide each September, with no Prime Video subscription required. Official financial terms were not disclosed. The BBC said it had contacted Amazon and the Emmys for comment.
Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy, said the deal gives the ceremony “unprecedented global reach,” allowing audiences in more than 200 countries to watch live.
“Television has never been more global, and the Emmys should be a celebration that the world can share,” Abrego said in a statement issued by Amazon.
Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said the platform is honored to serve as the “global home” for the ceremony, adding that streaming the show for free delivers “the best entertainment to our customers worldwide.”
The agreement marks a milestone for Amazon, giving Prime Video its first marquee entertainment broadcast. The company had previously built a live profile centered on sports, including the NFL’s Thursday Night Football, NBA games, and UEFA Champions League fixtures. Amazon’s most recent earnings highlighted strong gains in live viewership, including record ratings for its inaugural NBA season, which peaked at 6.5 million viewers for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Emmys deal also positions Amazon directly alongside Google, whose video platform YouTube holds the rights to the Oscars starting in 2029, when the Academy Awards will move to YouTube live globally. The two streaming services are pursuing distinct models. YouTube relies primarily on an ad-supported business, whereas Amazon is leveraging free live access to draw massive global audiences into its wider ecosystem, the BBC reported. As with its live sporting events, the free broadcast will allow Amazon to build a substantial global advertising footprint.
First held in 1949, the Emmys honor achievements in acting, writing, and production, serving as a primary showcase for the global television industry. The ceremony’s move to exclusive streaming in 2027 will mark the first time the gala has aired entirely outside traditional broadcast television.