Emmy Awards exit broadcast TV, ink six-year Prime Video streaming deal

The Emmy Awards is going streaming — after more than 75 years on broadcast TV, the ceremony is making the move to Amazon Prime Video.

The Television Academy, which holds the annual awards gala, and Prime Video announced Tuesday that they inked a “historic, multiyear deal” that will make the streaming giant the new home for the ceremony.

As part of a six-year deal, Prime Video will become “the exclusive global home of the Emmy Awards, ushering in a bold, innovative vision to propel the cultural icon into its next chapter,” an announcement said.

Since 1949, when it was launched, the Emmys has aired on a rotating basis among the major broadcast networks. The switch to Prime Video will begin with the September 2027 awards ceremony.

Prime Video and the Television Academy said that next year’s ceremony won’t be behind a paywall and “will be free to view for audiences worldwide.”

The awards show is the latest event to jump from broadcast TV to a streaming platform. In 2021, the NFL announced it had reached a deal to make Prime Video its exclusive partner for Thursday Night Football. The move marked the first time a streaming service had a full game package.

The Television Academy and Prime Video touted the agreement, which they said will transform the Emmys “into a year-round cultural celebration” that will deliver “new experiences and entry points for fans to discover, engage with and celebrate what they love about TV.”