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Emmys Move From Broadcast TV to Prime Video in 2027

Amazon has officially secured the exclusive global rights to stream the Emmy Awards starting in 2027, marking a major shift for Hollywood awards shows away from traditional broadcast television.

Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer

Published: October 6, 2026 · Updated: October 6, 2026 · 3 min read

Emmys Move From Broadcast TV to Prime Video in 2027 — Image: TechCrunch

A Historic Shift to Streaming

Amazon recently [announced] that Prime Video will become the permanent home for the Emmy Awards, marking another major Hollywood awards show's departure from broadcast television. For the past seven decades, the ceremony rotated across traditional broadcast networks such as ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. Under the new agreement, Prime Video [secured the exclusive rights] to stream the event globally for a span of six years, starting in 2027.

Industry publications have reported additional details regarding the financial and logistical scope of the agreement. Deadline reports that Amazon is paying between $20 million and $25 million per year for the rights to stream the main ceremony. Meanwhile, other related programming from the Television Academy, such as the Hall of Fame ceremony, may also find a home on Prime Video, though questions remain regarding the future broadcast location of the Creative Arts Emmys.

The Emmy Awards are moving to Prime Video in 2027 — Image related to the report from Engadget · Source: Engadget

Global Access and Free Viewing

Unlike many subscription-locked streaming offerings, the Emmy Awards broadcast will be accessible to a wide audience. Viewers will not need an active Amazon Prime subscription to watch the event. Prime Video plans to stream the ceremony live and for free across more than 240 countries and territories, ensuring that global fans can tune in without paywalls.

This broad accessibility comes as the Emmys navigate changing viewing habits. With linear television audiences shrinking, award ceremonies are increasingly pivoting toward digital platforms where younger and international demographics spend their time. The transition to a dedicated streaming home aims to stabilize and potentially grow the ceremony's reach across international borders.

Evolving Viewership and Industry Trends

The move to streaming arrives as the Emmys face potential viewership fluctuations driven by audience migration to online platforms. While television ratings for the 78th primetime Emmy Awards broadcast on NBC experienced a nearly 10% decline compared to the previous year, according to data highlighted by [the AP reported], the numbers remained well above the historical low recorded in January 2024.

Streaming services have steadily increased their presence within the television academy ecosystem. For instance, top accolades at recent ceremonies, including major comedy and drama category wins, have increasingly gone to streaming-exclusive productions, underscoring the deep ties between modern television prestige and digital distribution.

Several Emmy Award statues. — Image related to the report from Engadget · Source: Engadget

A Broader Movement Across Major Awards

The Emmys are part of a broader industry-wide transition that is reshaping how audiences consume major entertainment events. Streaming platforms have steadily acquired rights to Hollywood's biggest nights. For example, Netflix has served as the home for the Screen Actors Guild Awards since 2024, altering how talent guilds handle their annual celebrations.

Similarly, the film industry has begun charting a digital-first course for its own marquee events. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences [announced late last year] that YouTube secured the rights to stream the Oscars exclusively, with that transition slated to begin in 2029. Together, these agreements signal a definitive turning point for live entertainment broadcasting.