Amazon secures exclusive global streaming rights to Emmy Awards

Amazon Prime Video has secured exclusive global streaming rights to the Emmy Awards in a landmark six-year agreement that signals the entertainment industry's continued pivot toward digital platforms. The deal, which commences in 2027, ends the ceremony's traditional rotation among major US broadcast networks including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

Under the new arrangement, the Emmy Awards will be streamed live and made available free of charge to audiences worldwide, representing a major departure from the decades-long broadcasting model that saw the annual celebration of television excellence air on conventional television networks. The shift reflects broader industry trends as streaming services increasingly compete for premium live events and audiences fragment across multiple platforms.

The agreement represents a significant victory for Amazon in its efforts to acquire marquee entertainment properties and global broadcast rights. For the television industry, the move underscores how major cultural events are increasingly finding their audiences through digital channels rather than traditional broadcast infrastructure.

The Emmy Awards, which recognize outstanding achievement in the television industry, have been a fixture of American popular culture since 1949. The transition to an exclusive streaming partnership marks one of the most substantial changes to the ceremony's broadcast arrangements in recent memory.