Emmys leave broadcast television for Prime Video after 31 years of rotating networks

The Primetime Emmys are moving from broadcast television to Prime Video under a new six year global agreement beginning in 2027, marking the first time the ceremony will be carried exclusively by a streaming platform.

According to Variety, Prime Video is expected to pay around $15m annually for worldwide rights, although the Television Academy and Amazon have not publicly confirmed the financial terms. The previous rotating arrangement involving ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox paid an estimated $8m to $10m annually for US rights.

The new agreement will end the rotating network arrangement after 31 years. The Emmys have been televised since 1949, with the ceremony moving between the major US broadcast networks under the most recent system.

The 2027 Primetime Emmys will be available free on Prime Video in the US and across more than 240 countries and territories, meaning viewers will not need a paid Prime subscription to access the ceremony.

Television Academy chair Cris Abrego said the organisation wanted greater continuity and investment from a single broadcast partner. Prime Video head Mike Hopkins said the six year term would give both sides time to develop the ceremony and build its audience.

The agreement could also expand to other Emmy events. The Television Academy’s two nights focused on craft and technical categories could potentially become part of the Prime Video relationship, although additional arrangements would be required.

Another major change could follow in 2027, with Abrego saying the Television Academy’s proposed merger with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences could happen by the middle of the year. Awards including the Daytime Emmys could eventually be considered for inclusion in the wider Prime Video partnership, although no deal has been reached.

The move follows increasing changes in awards broadcasting. Prime Video already carries the Academy of Country Music Awards, while the SAG Awards moved to Netflix. The Oscars are also scheduled to stream on YouTube beginning in 2029.

For the Emmys, the immediate challenge will be moving an established audience from traditional television to streaming while maintaining the ceremony’s profile. Prime Video plans to promote the event across its service and through wider marketing campaigns ahead of the 2027 ceremony.