Emmys Move to Prime Video In Six-Year Deal Worth $15 Million a Year

Key Points:

• Amazon Prime Video has secured a six-year exclusive deal to stream the Primetime Emmy Awards starting in September 2027, ending the 31-year "wheel deal" rotation among ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, and marking the first time the Emmys will move off broadcast TV since 1949.
• The deal reportedly involves a global license fee of about $15 million annually, a significant increase from the previous $8-$10 million domestic fees paid by the networks; the Emmys will be available for free on Prime Video worldwide, bypassing the paywall.
• The agreement may expand to include other Emmy programs, such as the Creative Arts Emmys and potentially awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences after its planned merger with the TV Academy in mid-2027.
• Amazon and the TV Academy aim to build a long-term partnership to grow and innovate the Emmys as a global event, leveraging Prime Video’s international reach and subscription ecosystem, while maintaining a roughly three-hour telecast format.
• The move to streaming presents challenges in audience migration and awareness, but both parties are confident that consistent annual broadcasts on Prime Video and integrated marketing efforts will help sustain and grow viewership.