The Television Academy is reportedly in advanced negotiations with Amazon Prime Video to relocate the Emmy Awards ceremony to the streaming platform, marking a significant shift in the award show’s distribution strategy. The move would end the Emmy’s presence on traditional broadcast television for the first time since the ceremony’s inception in 1949, and would conclude a 31-year rotation system known as the “wheel deal” that annually alternated hosting duties among ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.
The current broadcast arrangement, established in 2018, has provided networks with approximately $8 million annually in licensing fees. Amazon Prime Video has already demonstrated success with awards programming, having acquired the Academy of Country Music Awards from CBS in 2021. This potential transition reflects a broader entertainment industry trend, as major awards shows including the SAG-AFTRA Awards and the Oscars have recently moved to streaming platforms.
While negotiations remain ongoing, sources suggest the Television Academy finds appeal in partnering with a single streaming platform rather than maintaining the traditional wheel rotation. Such an arrangement would theoretically incentivize greater investment in production and promotion. However, the Academy remains cognizant of previous risks associated with exclusive deals; Fox’s monopoly on Emmy broadcasting from 1987 to 1992 resulted in significant audience decline, prompting the wheel system’s return in 1995.
Television Academy leadership has confirmed that discussions surrounding a new distribution agreement are ongoing, though no final terms have been disclosed.
Originally reported by Variety →
About the Author
