Emmys to stream free on Amazon worldwide from 2027 under six-year deal
The Television Academy has signed a six-year deal to move the Emmy Awards from broadcast television to Amazon’s Prime Video, starting with the 2027 ceremony. The stream will be free to watch worldwide, so viewers will not need a Prime subscription. The shift gives the awards a new home as streaming platforms compete for major live events and global audiences.
Deadline reports Amazon will pay about $20 million to $25 million a year, putting the deal’s value above $120 million over six years. The Academy says the partnership will extend the Emmys’ reach and support its work throughout the year. Other awards are also moving to streaming: Netflix has the SAG Awards rights, and YouTube is due to carry the Oscars from 2029; Apple TV led this year’s Emmy wins with 14 for *Widow’s Bay*.
- Amazon will stream the Emmys from 2027.
- Viewing will be free worldwide, without Prime.
- The six-year deal is reportedly worth more than $120 million.
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The Emmy Awards are America's most prestigious television honours, presented each year to recognise excellence in programmes, acting and other craft. They have traditionally aired on major broadcast networks, making them a significant cultural event watched by millions.
Streaming platforms are increasingly competing for rights to major live events to attract audiences. Amazon has secured a six-year deal to broadcast the Emmys from 2027, with the stream available free to watch worldwide. This investment by the streaming giant demonstrates the value placed on premium live content by these platforms.
Other major awards are also moving to streaming services, with Netflix now holding the SAG Awards and YouTube set to show the Oscars from 2029. This trend shows that streaming platforms are becoming primary venues for major entertainment events. For viewers, it represents a significant change in where these prestigious ceremonies will be accessible.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Emmy Awards' move to streaming reflects where audiences genuinely are, particularly younger viewers and international audiences who increasingly eschew broadcast television. By making the ceremony free on Prime Video, the Emmys maximise accessibility and reach whilst securing substantial investment from Amazon that enables the Academy to support its year-round work. This evolution aligns with industry commercial reality and represents a pragmatic response to irreversible shifts in media consumption habits.
The case against
The Emmy Awards' traditional broadcast television home carries genuine cultural significance and reaches demographic groups that streaming platforms do not reliably serve, including older, established industry figures whose participation matters to the ceremony's prestige. Shifting to streaming-only concentrates control over a prestigious cultural institution among a handful of competing companies rather than maintaining the broader distribution model that historically supported robust production values and substantial viewership. This fragmentation may ultimately diminish the awards' cultural relevance and create economic uncertainty when tied to individual platform strategies rather than traditional network economics.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Amazon reportedly pays $120 million to stream the Emmys for free”.