In a significant development, the Emmy Awards will be exclusively streamed on Prime Video starting in 2027 under a newly announced six-year contract between Amazon and the Television Academy. This marks the end of a longstanding tradition where broadcast networks have aired the ceremony for over 70 years.
The shift to streaming services reflects the growing prominence of platforms like Prime Video in prestigious award categories at the Emmys. Since 1955, the awards show has been broadcast on one of the four major networks annually, with NBC being the first to host it nationally and most recently in a rotation with ABC, CBS, and Fox as part of the “Wheel Deal” in the last three decades.
Moving forward, the Emmys will have a single long-term home starting from the upcoming September awards, a change aimed at fostering continuity and collaborative growth between the Television Academy and Amazon. Notably, viewers will still be able to watch the Emmys free of charge without requiring a Prime Video subscription.
This move mirrors the recent agreement for the Oscars to be streamed exclusively on YouTube starting in 2029, ending their longstanding association with broadcast networks. Unlike the Oscars deal, which was announced in 2025 and will commence in 2029, the Emmy contract with Prime Video is effective immediately.
With declining viewership across award shows in today’s fragmented media landscape, the Emmys have seen a drop from over 20 million viewers at their peak to around seven million currently. Amazon and the Academy believe that Prime Video’s platform could potentially reverse this trend by offering easy access to Emmy-related content, including award-winning shows like “Widow’s Bay” and “The Studio.”
Amazon’s Mike Hopkins expressed optimism about attracting a younger audience and boosting viewership through targeted promotions of Emmy nominees on Prime Video. While acknowledging the shift to streaming as significant, Television Academy Chairman Cris Abrego emphasized that recognizing excellence in content remains their top priority, regardless of the delivery medium.
As the Emmy Awards make their debut on Prime Video in 2027, discussions are open to potentially alter the timing of the event in the future, providing flexibility for evolving needs and preferences.
