Amazon wins global rights to stream Emmys in six-year deal — SkimNews
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- Amazon Prime Video won exclusive global rights to stream the Emmy Awards in a six-year deal beginning in 2027, replacing a rotation among ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC
- The ceremony will stream live for free worldwide each September with no Prime Video subscription required, reaching more than 200 countries
- Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy, called the deal's reach "unprecedented," while Mike Hopkins of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios said the platform is honored to serve as the ceremony's "global home"
- Forrester research director Mike Proulx said Prime Video "makes sense" because "the shows driving the industry forward largely originate on streaming platforms, yet the awards themselves were tethered to broadcast television"
- The agreement gives Amazon its first marquee non-sports live broadcast after building a live profile around NFL Thursday Night Football, NBA, and UEFA Champions League fixtures
- Amazon's inaugural NBA season peaked at 6.5 million viewers for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, which the deal announcement cited as evidence of live-viewership momentum
- The Emmys had rotated across major legacy broadcast networks since 1955; the Oscars are moving to YouTube live globally starting in 2029
Why it matters: The Emmys' departure from traditional broadcast television after 70 years hands Amazon its first prestige entertainment broadcast, a free, 200-country live event designed to funnel massive global audiences into Prime Video's advertising ecosystem and broader platform. It also positions Amazon alongside YouTube — which lands the Oscars in 2029 — as one of two streaming gatekeepers for Hollywood's top awards.
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