The Emmys Are Moving to Prime Video in 2027: How to Watch Free, Including on DIRECTV
The short answer: starting with the 2027 ceremony, the Primetime Emmy Awards will stream live on Prime Video, and only there. The show will be free to watch, with no Prime subscription required, and it will still air in September. The Television Academy and Amazon announced the six-year deal on October 6, 2026. It ends the rotation that had the Emmys on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC.
What that means for you: the 2026 Emmys on NBC were the last ones on a broadcast channel. Next year you won't find them on your local channels, whether you watch with DIRECTV, cable or an antenna. You'll need a TV or device that runs the Prime Video app. If you have DIRECTV with a Gemini device, the app is already on it. Here's what has changed, what hasn't been announced yet, and how to make sure you're ready, all as of October 7, 2026.
Where the Emmys aired, and where they're going
This table shows the last four ceremonies under the network rotation and the first one under the Prime Video deal. Dates and networks come from the Television Academy's own announcements.
| Ceremony | Date | Where it aired | How DIRECTV customers watched |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Emmys | January 15, 2024 (postponed from fall 2023) | FOX | Local FOX station |
| 76th Emmys | September 15, 2024 | ABC | Local ABC station |
| 77th Emmys | September 14, 2025 | CBS | Local CBS station |
| 78th Emmys | September 14, 2026 | NBC and Peacock (the last network telecast) | Local NBC station |
| 79th Emmys | September 2027 (date not announced yet) | Prime Video only, free | Prime Video app, for example on a DIRECTV Gemini device |
The deal covers six years, so it runs through the 2032 ceremony unless the two sides change it.
How to watch the Emmys on Prime Video
You won't need a Prime membership for the Emmys, but you will need a way to open Prime Video. Here's what to do based on how you watch TV today:
- DIRECTV with a Gemini or Gemini Air device: DIRECTV says Prime Video comes preloaded on Gemini, so it shows up with the other apps on the home screen and can't be uninstalled. Press the APPS button on the Gemini remote and open Prime Video. Need help getting a Gemini set up? See our DIRECTV Gemini Air setup guide.
- DIRECTV with an older Genie or HD receiver: those receivers don't run the Prime Video app. You can use the Prime Video app built into your smart TV, plug in a streaming stick, or ask about switching to a Gemini device. Our guide to streaming Prime Video with a DIRECTV H44-500 explains the setup.
- Smart TVs and streaming players: most current smart TVs and streaming players offer the Prime Video app. Check that yours has it, and that it's updated, well before September.
- Phones, tablets and computers: the Prime Video app or website will work too, but a living room TV is the better way to watch a long live show.
Amazon hasn't said yet whether non-members will need to sign in with a free Amazon account to watch. It also hasn't said whether the stream will have commercial breaks, as the network telecasts did. We'll update this page when that's announced.
Not sure whether your DIRECTV equipment has the Prime Video app? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 and we'll check your setup and whether a Gemini device makes sense for you.
What it costs
The Emmys themselves are free. You'd only pay if you want the rest of Prime Video. These prices come from Amazon and were checked as of October 7, 2026:
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards on Prime Video (from 2027) | Free, no subscription required | The live ceremony |
| Amazon Prime membership | $14.99 a month or $139 a year | The full Prime Video library with ads, plus other Prime benefits |
| Prime Video Ultra add-on | $4.99 a month ($45.99 a year with annual Prime) | No ads, 4K/UHD, Dolby Atmos and up to five streams at once. Requires Prime or a Prime Video subscription. |
Amazon could change these prices before September 2027, so check again closer to the show. For more about the ad-free tier, see our page on Prime Video Ultra and its higher price.
What exactly was announced
- Exclusive and worldwide: Prime Video becomes the only home of the Emmy Awards, in more than 240 countries and territories, for six years starting with the 2027 ceremony.
- Free: the ceremony won't be behind a paywall. Television Academy chair Cris Abrego said viewers will be able to watch it live "with no subscription required."
- Still in September: the show keeps its September slot and airs live.
- Year-round content: the Academy and Amazon say Prime Video will also carry other Emmy-related programming during the year. They haven't listed specific shows yet.
- The end of the "Wheel Deal": the deal replaces the rotation among ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC that ended with the 2026 telecast. It's the first time since the Emmys began in 1949 that the main ceremony won't air on broadcast TV.
Amazon hasn't disclosed what it's paying, and the date and host of the 2027 show will be announced later.
The big awards shows are moving to streaming
The Emmys are the latest major awards show to sign with a streaming service. Here's where the biggest ceremonies are headed, according to each organization's announcement:
| Awards show | Next change | Where to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Emmys | Starting September 2027 | Prime Video only, free |
| Grammys | Starting February 7, 2027 | ABC, Disney+ and Hulu, under a 10-year deal through 2036 |
| Oscars | ABC through 2028, then YouTube from 2029 to 2033 | Free on YouTube worldwide and on YouTube TV in the U.S. starting in 2029 |
For DIRECTV customers, that means the 2027 Grammys and the Oscars through 2028 will still be on your local ABC station. The Emmys need an app starting next year, and the Oscars will too from 2029. For more on that switch, see the Oscars moving to YouTube in 2029.
What to do now
- Nothing changes until next September. The next Primetime Emmys ceremony is in September 2027, and you don't need to sign up for anything ahead of time to watch it.
- Check your equipment this year. If your main TV only has a DIRECTV Genie receiver, decide now whether you'll use the TV's own app, a streaming stick or a Gemini device. That way you're not scrambling on Emmy night.
- Like having everything in one guide? Gemini puts DIRECTV's live channels and apps like Prime Video, Peacock and HBO Max on one home screen. See how DIRECTV gives you Max, Netflix, Prime Video and Google Play apps.
Want live TV and your streaming apps on one screen and one remote? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 to compare DIRECTV packages and Gemini options at your address.
Frequently asked questions
Will I need Amazon Prime to watch the Emmys in 2027?
No. The Television Academy and Amazon both say the Emmy Awards will be free to watch on Prime Video, with no subscription required, starting with the 2027 ceremony.
Will the 2027 Emmys be on NBC, ABC, CBS or FOX?
No. Prime Video is the exclusive home of the Emmys under the new six-year deal. The broadcast networks' rotation ended with the September 14, 2026 ceremony on NBC and Peacock.
When are the 2027 Emmys?
The ceremony will stream live in September 2027. The exact date has not been announced as of October 7, 2026.
Can I watch the 2027 Emmys on DIRECTV?
Not on a broadcast channel. DIRECTV's Gemini devices come with the Prime Video app preloaded, so you can open it from the Gemini home screen. With an older Genie receiver, use the Prime Video app on a smart TV or streaming player instead.
Are the Creative Arts Emmys included?
That hasn't been settled publicly. Trade reports describe the earlier Creative Arts nights as possible or under discussion for Prime Video, but neither the Television Academy nor Amazon has confirmed it.
Questions about getting Prime Video on your DIRECTV setup? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 7, 2026 (ET). Based on the Television Academy's and Amazon's October 6, 2026 announcements, Television Academy announcements for the 75th–78th Emmys, Amazon's Prime Video Ultra pricing page, DIRECTV's Gemini support pages, the Recording Academy's Grammys announcements and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' YouTube announcement. Prices and availability can change. Emmy, Prime Video, Amazon, DIRECTV, Gemini and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.