Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's $100 million Netflix deal not to be renewed; Here's the reason behind the ‘abrupt end'
Meghan Markle
and Prince Harry have arrived at their next 'royal failure'.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's $100 million Netflix deal is wrapping up this September, and the streaming giant isn't pressing the 'renew' button While the Sussexes have managed to make some waves with their debut docuseries 'Harry & Meghan' and Meghan's lifestyle series 'With Love, Meghan', neither show have been able to live up to Netflix's high-flying expectations.
Notably, the no-renewal update comes just days after it was revealed that Meghan's lifestyle show failed to land on the streamer's top 300 list, by a long shot.
The end of the road
Back in September 2020, amid the Megxit frenzy, Harry and Meghan signed a blockbuster $100 million contract with Netflix to produce documentaries, series, and children's programming through their company, Archewell Productions. Their debut docuseries 'Harry & Meghan' did well, clocking 28 million households in four days, which made it Netflix's biggest documentary launch ever.
However, that was almost all.
Their next offerings, like Heart of Invictus, Polo, Live to Lead, and With Love, Meghan couldn't follow that universal fanfare. To dish out more numbers, Polo, in particular, landed at #3,436 and only reached 500,000 households, and With Love placed a meek #383 globally in mid‑2025.
In other words: It's not 'Meg' (as the Duchess of Sussex likes to call herself), it's Meh.
As the $100 million deal nears its end this September, it will conclude without renewal, The Sun reported.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Great news for Filipinos!
Sunlife.com.ph
Read More
Undo
Furthermore, as reported by PEOPLE, a Hollywood insider confirmed that the couple's multi-year production deal will not be extended, reflecting a shift in Netflix's broader business strategy. The insider added, 'There's no animosity from either side,' a source told The Sun, adding, 'Things have just run their course.
'
However, some other sources disclosed that Netflix ultimately 'got what it wanted,' that massive initial splash, and now sees little value in renewing a multi-project deal with patchy returns.
What's left to save the grace?
Although Meghan and Harry are not coming back to Netflix with a renewed deal, Season 2 of Meghan's lifestyle show 'With Love, Meghan' has already been filmed and set to drop this fall. Plus, despite no renewal for the broader deal, Meghan's As Ever lifestyle brand remains tied to Netflix's consumer-products initiatives.
What's next?
Netflix is wrapping up the deal with Meghan and Harry. That doesn't mean it's the end of business for the Sussex couple.
The ex-royals might just shift to content-on-demand mode rather than exclusivity. Or, they could resort to non-exclusive pacts as well, maybe with another streamer.
Besides, Meghan's As Ever lifestyle brand, which is set to become an empire, shows steady growth with drops getting sold out within hours of launch. In fact, due to the building demand, as per the Duchess of Sussex, she had to 'take a break' from her podcast, 'Confessions of a Female Founder'. After wrapping up her first season of the podcast, Meghan confirmed that she was taking a step back from podcasting to focus on her other business venture: As Ever.
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle 'Firing' Staff To 'Save Cash'? Royal Insider Drops Bombshell
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Destiny's Child reunites after 19 years: Why they broke up—and was Beyoncé the reason?
Destiny's Child recently reunited on stage during Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour, sparking nostalgia and renewed interest in their split. Formed in the early 1990s, the group achieved massive success but faced internal conflicts, including lineup changes and a lawsuit against their manager. Despite disbanding, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams have reunited for memorable performances over the years. Destiny's Child just gave fans a blast from the past. As Beyoncé wrapped up her Cowboy Carter tour with a star-studded finale in Las Vegas, she brought out her former bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for a surprise on-stage reunion. The trio's unexpected performance had the crowd roaring and sparked fresh buzz online—not just about their nostalgic hits, but also about what really led to their split nearly two decades ago. Here's a look back at why one of the most iconic girl groups of all time called it quits. From Girl's Tyme to Destiny's Child Destiny's Child, originally known as Girl's Tyme, was formed in Houston in the early 1990s. Starting with Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett, the group performed at local events and went through several lineup changes. After years of hustle and building a local reputation, they signed with Columbia Records in 1997 and officially rebranded as Destiny's Child. Destiny's Child shot to fame with the release of their debut single No, No, No and their second album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999), which featured chart-toppers like Bills, Bills, Bills and Say My Name. Their mainstream breakthrough led to massive global success, with the group selling over 60 million records by 2013. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Billboard named them one of the greatest musical trios of all time and the 9th most successful artist of the 2000s. Throughout their career, they earned 14 Grammy nominations and took home two awards. Trouble Behind the Scenes While Destiny's Child was soaring in popularity, tensions were brewing behind the scenes. Trouble began when members LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett grew dissatisfied with the group's management—particularly with Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles, who also served as their manager. They felt he was giving preferential treatment to Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland. In 2000, both Roberson and Luckett filed a lawsuit against Knowles, alleging breach of partnership and fiduciary duties, marking the start of internal conflict within the group. Lineup Changes and Fallout In 2000, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett were replaced by Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. However, Farrah exited the group just five months later. Her departure stirred controversy—she told that she was "verbally attacked by the management" after missing promotional events due to illness. Beyoncé, on the other hand, claimed Farrah lacked commitment, which led to her removal. Following this shake-up, Destiny's Child continued as a trio. Their 2001 album Survivor was widely seen as a reflection of the group's turbulent past and resilience. Reunions Over the Years Later in 2001, Destiny's Child announced a hiatus and reunited in 2004 for their fifth and final album, Destiny Fulfilled. While the group gave all its members a platform, Beyoncé's solo career soared the most prominently. After their formal disbandment, each member pursued individual careers with varying degrees of success. Despite parting ways professionally, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams have reunited for special performances over the years—most notably at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show and the 2018 Coachella festival.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
(Exclusive) Rekha Bhardwaj: Let's not call an item song a ghazal
Rekha Bhardwaj highlights the shift in focus towards instant success among youngsters, impacting the creation and use of ghazals in films. She notes the pressure to create viral hits often leads to the superficial inclusion of ghazals, sometimes mislabeled as item songs. Youngsters want instant success,' shares Rekha Bhardwaj , emphasising how even if a film includes a ghazal today, it's often just to create an instant hit. At the recently concluded ghazal festival Khazana in the city, the singer spoke about the power of live performances, how ghazals have evolved and why they must be treated with reverence. Excerpts: 'Youngsters want instant gratification and success, toh focus change hota hai' Rekha, who has lent her voice to songs like Phir Le Aaya Dil, Kabira and Genda Phool, among others, points out how the pursuit of virality creates pressure. She elaborates, 'Youngsters want instant gratification, instant success and instant appreciation... toh focus change hota hai. Even if they include ghazals in a film, they will only do so to ensure it becomes a hit. Ek ajeeb sa pressure hai ki gaana hit hona chahiye. Phir toh mushkil hai. There are filmmakers who have used a certain Sufi ghazal in their film, but it's actually an item song. Why don't they call it what it is? If you are making an actress do belly dance on a ghazal, then you should call it an item song.' While she dislikes the idea of using the term 'ghazal' loosely, she doesn't entirely condemn item songs. She explains, 'It's not wrong to have an item song because it's part of our culture — nautanki, kothe pe gaana bajana, it's all part of our culture. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mini House for 60 sqm for Seniors with Toilet and Bath (Price May Surprise You) Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Let's take pride in that. There's nothing wrong with having such songs if the situation calls for it in the film.' 'Ghazal is a facet of love, romance and longing' Rekha feels that what sets ghazals apart is their emotional core. 'Ghazal ek poetry hai jise hum melody ke through express kartein hain. It's a facet of love, romance, longing and shringaar ras. Ghazals are eternal. The best thing is that youngsters are taking up this form, more in the interiors than the metros. But this genre needs more exposure.' 'Aaj ke ghazalon ka, qawaaliyon ka, rang badal raha hai ' The singer believes that there has been a generational shift in creative focus in movies and music. She says, 'Yes, there aren't many ghazals in film albums, but there are composers like Pritam, Vishal (Bhardwaj), who do include ghazals in their films. The only thing is that aaj kal ghazalon ka, qawaaliyon ka, rang badal raha hai, and ab aesthetics ke hisab se hota hai.' She adds, 'Youngsters apne exposure ke hisab se hi ghazal banayenge. If you take Urdu words from Google and put them in a ghazal, woh toh kam hi padega na.' "Youngsters want instant gratification, instant success and instant appreciation... toh focus change hota hai. Even if they include ghazals in a film, they will only do so to ensure it becomes a hit." - Rekha Bhardwaj
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kriti Sanon's rumoured beau Kabir Bahia drops unseen photo of them on her birthday amid dating rumours
Kriti Sanon celebrated her 35th birthday, sparking dating rumours with UK-based businessman Kabir Bahia, who shared an unseen selfie. The speculation intensified after fans noticed similarities in their vacation photos from France. Sanon is preparing for the release of 'Tere Ishk Mein' and will star in 'Don 3' opposite Ranveer Singh. Kriti Sanon turned 35 this Sunday, and while birthday wishes poured in from fans and friends, one particular post stood out. UK-based businessman Kabir Bahia, rumoured to be dating the actress, shared an unseen selfie with Kriti—adding fresh fuel to the ongoing dating rumours. Check out the post here: Kabir's Sweet Birthday Wish On Sunday, Kabir shared an unseen selfie with his rumoured girlfriend Kriti, seemingly from a recent getaway. Alongside the cheerful snap, he wrote, 'Happy Birthday K ❤️,' letting the picture do most of the talking. Kriti looked effortlessly stylish in a white outfit and bold red sunglasses, while Kabir sported a pink shirt and dark shades—both radiating a relaxed, vacation vibe. Vacation Rumours Heat Up Again A few days ago, speculation sparked that the rumoured couple were vacationing together in France. Though the two didn't share any pictures together, fans were quick to spot striking similarities in the backgrounds of their individual cruise photos, fueling dating rumours once again. Who Is Kabir Bahia? Kabir Bahia is reportedly a UK-based businessman who completed his schooling at a boarding school in England. Belonging to an affluent family, he is the founder of Worldwide Aviation and Tourism Limited. Kabir is the son of Kuljinder Bahia, the owner of the UK-based travel agency Southall Travel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pirates Climb Aboard Cargo Ship - Watch What The Captain Did Next Tips and Tricks Undo He also shares a close bond with cricketer MS Dhoni. Kriti's Upcoming Projects Meanwhile, on the work front, Kriti is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film Tere Ishk Mein, directed by Aanand L Rai. The romantic drama, which reunites her with Dhanush, is slated to hit theatres on November 28. Apart from this, the actress will also be seen in Don 3. According to reports, she has replaced Kiara Advani in Farhan Akhtar's highly anticipated action franchise, where she will star opposite Ranveer Singh .
