Emmy Awards to stream on Prime Video starting in 2027

The Emmy Awards will move to Prime Video beginning in 2027 under a six-year agreement between Amazon and the Television Academy, ending a seven-decade tradition of broadcast networks airing the ceremony that honors television's best.

The deal, announced Tuesday, signifies a shift to streaming services, which have become dominant in the prestige categories recognized by the Emmys. The show has aired on one of the four major broadcast networks annually since 1955.

For the past three decades, the Emmys have been part of an annual rotation between ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, a system known as the "Wheel Deal." Starting with the 79th Primetime Emmy Awards next September, the ceremony will have a single, consistent home.

"Continuity is a big part of what we're looking for because the rotating part of it basically meant in many ways that we were starting over every year," said Cris Abrego, chairman of the Television Academy. "With one partner over six years, we can really learn together and build from year to year together."

The Emmys will remain free to watch and will not require a Prime Video subscription, a condition the Academy insisted on from the outset of negotiations. This move follows a similar pattern to the Academy Awards, which announced in December a deal to move to YouTube starting in 2029, concluding their long-standing broadcast network relationship.

"We're on the clock, we gotta get rolling," stated Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. He expressed optimism that Prime Video can help increase viewership and attract a younger audience by promoting Emmy-nominated shows throughout the year.

Viewership for most awards shows has declined in a more fragmented media landscape, and the Emmys have seen a significant drop from their peak of over 20 million viewers to around 7 million. Abrego noted that Prime Video's role as a central hub for a wide variety of television content was a significant factor in the decision.

"They really support all television," Abrego said. "We want reach, we want access, and we felt Amazon was in line with that."

The Television Academy emphasized that the method of delivery is less important than the content itself. "The Academy has never defined television by how it reaches your screen or even which screen it reaches," Abrego added. "The goal is to consistently want to recognize excellence wherever it comes from."

Amazon has been increasingly involved in live events, including airing NFL games for nearly a decade, alongside numerous other major sports and events. "We look at our service as something that’s a hybrid between live and on-demand, and we’ve made live a real priority," Hopkins said.

The timing of the Emmys ceremony, typically in September, has often conflicted with the NFL's popular Monday Night Football broadcasts. This year's ceremony was overshadowed by the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos game on ESPN. While the 2027 ceremony is scheduled for September, Abrego indicated that future date adjustments could be explored with Amazon, although this would necessitate adjustments to award deadlines and voting schedules.