Amazon secures global streaming rights to the Emmys from 2027
Amazon has secured exclusive global streaming rights to the Emmy Awards from 2027, ending the ceremony’s annual rotation among US broadcast networks. The move makes the Emmys the first major entertainment awards ceremony to air exclusively on a streaming service, reflecting the growing role of streaming platforms in television.
The six-year agreement covers the main ceremony, which Prime Video will show free in more than 240 countries and territories, without requiring a Prime subscription. Amazon is reportedly paying between $20 million and $25 million a year. It may also stream other Television Academy events, though the future home of the Creative Arts Emmys has not been confirmed; YouTube is due to become the Oscars’ exclusive home in 2029.
- Prime Video gets exclusive Emmy rights from 2027.
- The six-year deal reportedly costs up to $25 million annually.
- The ceremony will stream free in over 240 countries and territories.
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The Emmy Awards are television's most prestigious annual awards ceremony, recognising outstanding achievement across the industry. Historically, the ceremony has been broadcast on American television networks on a rotating basis as a prime-time event.
Amazon's streaming service Prime Video has secured exclusive global rights to broadcast the ceremony from 2027 onwards. The broadcast will be free and accessible worldwide without requiring a Prime subscription, making this the first major entertainment awards ceremony to air exclusively on a streaming platform.
The deal reflects the shifting landscape of television consumption and the growing role of streaming services in entertainment. Award ceremonies have traditionally been anchored to broadcast television networks, but this move signals even the most established institutions are following audiences to streaming platforms. It represents broader industry changes in how major entertainment events are valued and distributed.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
This represents necessary modernisation as audiences migrate to streaming platforms where increasingly prestigious content is produced. Making the ceremony free globally on Prime Video without subscription requirements actually expands accessibility far beyond the traditional broadcast model, reaching viewers across 240+ countries and territories who might have had inconsistent access through rotating US networks. The arrangement aligns the Emmys with contemporary television production realities.
The case against
Relocating a historic cultural institution to a single corporate streaming platform raises legitimate concerns about editorial control, market consolidation, and departure from broadcast television's broader accessibility. Whilst the service is free, streaming still excludes those without reliable internet access or digital devices, and the historical principle of sharing major cultural moments across multiple platforms reflected important democratic values about equitable access to defining national events.
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Originally published by Engadget as “The Emmy Awards are moving to Prime Video in 2027”.