The Oscars were the first to announce a departure from traditional broadcast TV, but the Emmy Awards are beating it to the punch. Ahead of 2029, the year when the former begins streaming for free on YouTube, the Television Academy will bring its awards ceremony to Amazon’s Prime Video starting 2027, as part of a six-year deal between the two organisations.
As Deadline reports, terms of the pact weren’t revealed, but the streamer is believed to be paying a license fee of around US$20 to US$25 million per year for global rights to the event. The move marks the end of the annual wheel-deal rotation among networks ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC dating back to 1995, making the Emmys the first major entertainment award ceremony to air exclusively on a streaming service and the first time it steps away from broadcast TV since its inception in 1949.
Here’s the kicker — no subscription is required to watch the Emmys, which will be offered for free and placed in front of the paywall in over 240 countries and territories. “Television has never been more global, and the Emmys should be a celebration that the world can share,” said Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy, in an official statement.
“Our broadcast partners have been tremendous stewards of the Emmys for many years, helping to build them into the cultural institution they are today. Having a dedicated home with Prime Video allows us to build on that legacy with unprecedented global reach and a broader commitment to the Television Academy and our mission throughout the year. Prime Video shares our deep respect for the history of the Emmys, and brings the investment, innovation, and scale to help us shape their next chapter,” he added.
Under the new deal, other related programmes could also possibly air on Prime Video, including the Creative Arts Emmys that largely focus on behind-the-scenes production and technical work, with additional accolades for outstanding animated programs, commercials, and guest actors.
The most recent ceremony, the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, was held on 14 September and preceded by the Creative Arts Emmys on 5 and 6 September. The 2027 iteration will continue the September tradition (no word on an exact date yet), with the eligibility window spanning 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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