Prince William's Earthshot Prize Secures Global Streaming Deal with Amazon, Leaving BBC Behind
The ceremony is expected to draw audiences from over 240 countries, with coverage available in more than 40 languages.
For decades, the BBC has televised major royal events, including the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 2023, which attracted over 20 million viewers, and the 2022 state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, which reached billions globally. Beyond royal milestones, the network became the official broadcast partner for the Earthshot Prize in 2021. That October, it premiered a five-part documentary series titled The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, followed on October 17 by the inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London. However, this year, Prince William's global initiative has struck a major deal with a mammoth streaming platform, leaving the traditional medium behind.
In a defining modern shift, Amazon's Prime Video will broadcast the Earthshot Prize Awards, hosted by the Prince of Wales, for the first time on November 17 in Mumbai. The ceremony is expected to draw audiences from over 240 countries, with coverage available in more than 40 languages, and will welcome approximately 5,000 guests dedicated to innovative environmental solutions.
This is a notable change from previous broadcasts on the BBC, which also aired a 2024 documentary featuring William and actress Hannah Waddingham. A star-studded lineup, including Rami Malek, Sachin Tendulkar, Alia Bhatt, Sonam Kapoor, and Simone Ashley, is set to grace the Mumbai red carpet, with singer Shreya Ghoshal slated to perform. Additionally, the official Instagram account of the Earthshot Prize has announced filmmaker Karan Johar as the host.
Johar praised the event, calling it far more than a typical awards show. "This is more than an awards ceremony; it is a celebration of humanity's determination to heal the world, and India is ready to shine," he said. Ashley labeled the opportunity as thrilling, telling media outlets, "Bringing this global community together in India proves that real change happens when we unite with ambition, creativity, and optimism," as reported by GB News.
Meanwhile, this news closely follows reports that Prince Harry's Invictus Games are also nearing a sponsorship deal with Amazon. The tech giant is reportedly set to back the games in Birmingham, taking place from July 10 to 17, 2027, following Boeing's decision not to renew its support after the previous event. The financial deal with Amazon is also expected to enhance the chances of Meghan Markle's presence at the games, GB News reported.
Meanwhile, Kate Middleton will be accompanying William to India for the awards event. This will be the couple's first international trip after the Princess of Wales announced her cancer diagnosis in early 2024.
