The Emmys are reportedly planning a major broadcast TV shakeup with its new move.
In a bombshell update shared by Variety on Tuesday, September 15, it was reported that Amazon Prime Video could be preparing to take the Primetime Emmy Awards into a new era, as the streaming service is reportedly in talks for a licensing arrangement involving the annual awards ceremony.
The potential deal comes as the Emmys prepare for a change in their broadcasting setup following the end of the historic 31-year tradition of rotating the ceremony between ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC each year.
Known as the “wheel deal,” the agreement was last signed in 2018 for an eight-year arrangement and ended with the 2026 Emmy Awards on September 14. It allowed the broadcasting rights to shift between the four networks annually.
As per the reports, the latest wheel deal saw the networks pay more than $8 million a year. However, it remains under wraps how much Prime Video will pay or whether the agreement has been finalized.
Speaking to the outlet last week at Emmy press day, Cris Abrego, the TV Academy Chair, shared that the “conversations are continuing.”
“When we get news, we’ll be more than happy to share,” he added.
The shift to Amazon would mark a major change for the Emmys, which have traditionally been associated with broadcast television.
It would also highlight the growing influence of streaming services in the entertainment industry.
However, the discussions are still underway and no agreement has yet been finalized, keeping the Emmys’ next broadcasting medium undecided until a deal has officially been signed.
