Latest news with #A
South Wales Guardian
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Harry and Meghan renew Netflix deal with first look partnership
Five years ago, Harry and Meghan secured a lucrative contract, thought to be worth more than 100 million dollars (£74 million) with the streaming giant after quitting as senior working royals in 2020. The first-look deal, which means Netflix will have the first option on Harry and Meghan's projects, was described by the Sussexes as 'extending their creative partnership'. But PR and crisis expert Mark Borkowski described it as a 'downgrade', and suggested Netflix was 'pivoting away' from Harry and Meghan. Mr Borkowski told the PA news agency the deal was a long way from the jackpot figure of their original contract. 'I think Netflix has done a very neat job of pivoting away from two very expensive people who didn't deliver, and they've taken that deal off the table, and they've given them a modest one,' he said. 'It's not like they're gradually uncoupling. It's a downgrade. Netflix are not going to expose themselves to those budgets again and it's Netflix saying 'Well, look, let's have a look at your content, but we'll pick and choose, mate'.' Mr Borkowski suggested the Sussexes would now be on a pay as you go deal, where they are paid for productions as and when they are selected by Netflix, rather than receiving an overall amount. 'I would be surprised if it's not pay as you go and it's well, well below that first mark (of an estimated 100 million dollars),' Mr Borkoski said. A representative for the Sussexes declined to comment on the financial arrangements of the deal. Meghan said: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand. 'My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally and celebrates our shared vision.' Their new output will include a 'fun and heartwarming' second season of the duchess's With Love Meghan lifestyle show later this month, as well as a 'magical holiday celebration' Christmas special in December. Archewell Productions is also working on Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within – a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda's Masaka region, where the 'shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger'. This comes after Harry stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he founded to help children orphaned by Aids in Lesotho, following a boardroom battle with the chairwoman. The duke, who is considering starting a new humanitarian charity, has vowed to continue his commitment to supporting youngsters in the region. The documentary will focus on 'the heart of Uganda's Masaka region, where the shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger, a small orphanage becomes a beacon of hope'. Netflix said: 'Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within goes beyond the viral videos to reveal a vibrant, one-of-a-kind community where orphaned children transform hardship into joy, dancing their way toward healing, belonging and the promise of a brighter future.' There is also 'active development' on other projects with Netflix, which 'span a variety of content genres', including a feature adaptation of the bestselling romantic novel by Carley Fortune, Meet Me At The Lake. The Sussexes' most successful series has been Harry & Meghan – their controversial tell-all 2022 documentary about stepping back from royal duties and their struggles with the royal family. It totalled 23.4 million views and is Netflix's fifth most popular documentary series of all time. Harry & Meghan. Volume II: 15 December. Only on Netflix. — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) December 14, 2022 Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, said: 'Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. 'The response to their work speaks for itself — Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series. 'More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As Ever line consistently selling out in record time. 'We're excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.' Love is in the details. ✨ With Love, Meghan, a new series, premieres January 15. — Netflix (@netflix) January 2, 2025 Harry's other ventures included a documentary about polo, Live to Lead about inspiring leaders and Heart of the Invictus, following competitors in the 2022 Invictus Games. Season one of Meghan's With Love Meghan lifestyle series, which saw the former Suits star offer hosting and cooking tips as she entertained friends, was savaged by critics. One review in The Guardian described it as a 'gormless lifestyle filler' and 'so pointless it might be the Sussexes' last TV show', while The Telegraph gave it two stars and branded it 'insane' and an 'exercise in narcissism'. Its release coincided with the launch of Meghan's As Ever brand, which sells flower sprinkles, pre-prepared baking kits and jam, and in which Netflix is also a partner. The couple's other major media deal with Spotify ended in 2023 after one season of Meghan's podcast Archetypes, with one of the streaming giant's executives later branding them 'grifters'.
Leader Live
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Harry and Meghan renew Netflix deal with first look partnership
Five years ago, Harry and Meghan secured a lucrative contract, thought to be worth more than 100 million dollars (£74 million) with the streaming giant after quitting as senior working royals in 2020. The first-look deal, which means Netflix will have the first option on Harry and Meghan's projects, was described by the Sussexes as 'extending their creative partnership'. Meghan said: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand. 'My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally and celebrates our shared vision.' Their new output will include a 'fun and heartwarming' second season of the duchess's With Love Meghan lifestyle show later this month, as well as a 'magical holiday celebration' Christmas special in December. Archewell Productions is also working on Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within – a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda's Masaka region, where the 'shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger'. This comes after Harry stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he founded to help children orphaned by Aids in Lesotho, following a boardroom battle with the chairwoman. The duke, who is considering starting a new humanitarian charity, has vowed to continue his commitment to supporting youngsters in the region. The documentary will focus on 'the heart of Uganda's Masaka region, where the shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger, a small orphanage becomes a beacon of hope'. Netflix said: 'Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within goes beyond the viral videos to reveal a vibrant, one-of-a-kind community where orphaned children transform hardship into joy, dancing their way toward healing, belonging and the promise of a brighter future.' There is also 'active development' on other projects with Netflix, which 'span a variety of content genres', including a feature adaptation of the bestselling romantic novel by Carley Fortune, Meet Me At The Lake. The Sussexes' most successful series has been Harry & Meghan – their controversial tell-all 2022 documentary about stepping back from royal duties and their struggles with the royal family. It totalled 23.4 million views and is Netflix's fifth most popular documentary series of all time. Harry & Meghan. Volume II: 15 December. Only on Netflix. — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) December 14, 2022 Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, said: 'Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. 'The response to their work speaks for itself — Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series. 'More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As Ever line consistently selling out in record time. 'We're excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.' Love is in the details. ✨ With Love, Meghan, a new series, premieres January 15. — Netflix (@netflix) January 2, 2025 Harry's other ventures included a documentary about polo, Live to Lead about inspiring leaders and Heart of the Invictus, following competitors in the 2022 Invictus Games. Season one of Meghan's With Love Meghan lifestyle series, which saw the former Suits star offer hosting and cooking tips as she entertained friends, was savaged by critics. One review in The Guardian described it as a 'gormless lifestyle filler' and 'so pointless it might be the Sussexes' last TV show', while The Telegraph gave it two stars and branded it 'insane' and an 'exercise in narcissism'. Its release coincided with the launch of Meghan's As Ever brand, which sells flower sprinkles, pre-prepared baking kits and jam, and in which Netflix is also a partner. The couple's other major media deal with Spotify ended in 2023 after one season of Meghan's podcast Archetypes, with one of the streaming giant's executives later branding them 'grifters'.
Axios
a day ago
- Business
- Axios
Prince Harry and Meghan's Netflix deal shrinks
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announced on Monday an extended partnership with Netflix, but the deal is a more modest version of the splashy agreement they previously inked. Why it matters: The new deal comes as their public profile as media moguls has fluctuated with mixed response on their shows. Zoom in: The previous deal from 2020 gave Netflix the exclusive rights to content from Archewell Productions, the couple's company. The new deal is a multi-year, first look agreement, meaning Netflix gets early access to Archewell's projects but isn't obligated to fund them. Archewell can then shop them elsewhere. Upcoming projects include season two and a holiday special of "With Love, Meghan" and a documentary short called "Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within." Catch up quick: Harry and Meghan launched Archewell Productions and signed the Netflix deal just six months after they left their official roles with the British royal family. A few months later, they signed an exclusive content deal with Spotify. The Spotify deal ended in 2023 and only included one series, Meghan's interview podcast called "Archetypes." Yes, but: While the Sussexes' media ventures have faced scrutiny, Meghan's commerce play has found traction. Products from her lifestyle brand "As Ever," launched in partnership with Netflix, sold out within an hour. Meghan as a product tastemaker appears to be resonating more than traditional media work. Her embrace of lighter and commerce-forward content, instead of progressive politics and activism, comes as that narrative has dulled and shifted in the post-pandemic Trump era and as consumers gravitate toward escapism and self-care. The big picture: The era of celebrity-backed production companies dominating the streaming wars is changing. As streaming companies become more frugal, celebrity storytelling no longer guarantees success. SpringHill, the media company co-founded by LeBron James, has been bleeding money, per Bloomberg. Higher Ground, the Obamas' production company, also transitioned to a first-look deal with Netflix last year. Streamers are choosing to spend big on sports rights. On Monday, Paramount announced it acquired the U.S. rights to Ultimate Fighting Championship. Netflix and ESPN both struck billion-dollar deals with the WWE.
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Harry and Meghan renew Netflix deal with first look partnership
Five years ago, Harry and Meghan secured a lucrative contract, thought to be worth more than 100 million dollars (£74 million) with the streaming giant after quitting as senior working royals in 2020. The first-look deal, which means Netflix will have the first option on Harry and Meghan's projects, was described by the Sussexes as 'extending their creative partnership'. Meghan said: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand. 'My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally and celebrates our shared vision.' Their new output will include a 'fun and heartwarming' second season of the duchess's With Love Meghan lifestyle show later this month, as well as a 'magical holiday celebration' Christmas special in December. Archewell Productions is also working on Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within – a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda's Masaka region, where the 'shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger'. This comes after Harry stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he founded to help children orphaned by Aids in Lesotho, following a boardroom battle with the chairwoman. The duke, who is considering starting a new humanitarian charity, has vowed to continue his commitment to supporting youngsters in the region. The documentary will focus on 'the heart of Uganda's Masaka region, where the shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger, a small orphanage becomes a beacon of hope'. Netflix said: 'Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within goes beyond the viral videos to reveal a vibrant, one-of-a-kind community where orphaned children transform hardship into joy, dancing their way toward healing, belonging and the promise of a brighter future.' There is also 'active development' on other projects with Netflix, which 'span a variety of content genres', including a feature adaptation of the bestselling romantic novel by Carley Fortune, Meet Me At The Lake. The Sussexes' most successful series has been Harry & Meghan – their controversial tell-all 2022 documentary about stepping back from royal duties and their struggles with the royal family. It totalled 23.4 million views and is Netflix's fifth most popular documentary series of all time. Harry & Meghan. Volume II: 15 December. Only on Netflix. — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) December 14, 2022 Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, said: 'Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. 'The response to their work speaks for itself — Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series. 'More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As Ever line consistently selling out in record time. 'We're excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.' Love is in the details. ✨ With Love, Meghan, a new series, premieres January 15. — Netflix (@netflix) January 2, 2025 Harry's other ventures included a documentary about polo, Live to Lead about inspiring leaders and Heart of the Invictus, following competitors in the 2022 Invictus Games. Season one of Meghan's With Love Meghan lifestyle series, which saw the former Suits star offer hosting and cooking tips as she entertained friends, was savaged by critics. One review in The Guardian described it as a 'gormless lifestyle filler' and 'so pointless it might be the Sussexes' last TV show', while The Telegraph gave it two stars and branded it 'insane' and an 'exercise in narcissism'. Its release coincided with the launch of Meghan's As Ever brand, which sells flower sprinkles, pre-prepared baking kits and jam, and in which Netflix is also a partner. The couple's other major media deal with Spotify ended in 2023 after one season of Meghan's podcast Archetypes, with one of the streaming giant's executives later branding them 'grifters'.
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Harry and Meghan renew Netflix deal with first look partnership
Five years ago, Harry and Meghan secured a lucrative contract, thought to be worth more than 100 million dollars (£74 million) with the streaming giant after quitting as senior working royals in 2020. The first-look deal, which means Netflix will have the first option on Harry and Meghan's projects, was described by the Sussexes as 'extending their creative partnership'. Meghan said: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand. 'My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally and celebrates our shared vision.' Their new output will include a 'fun and heartwarming' second season of the duchess's With Love Meghan lifestyle show later this month, as well as a 'magical holiday celebration' Christmas special in December. Archewell Productions is also working on Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within – a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda's Masaka region, where the 'shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger'. This comes after Harry stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he founded to help children orphaned by Aids in Lesotho, following a boardroom battle with the chairwoman. The duke, who is considering starting a new humanitarian charity, has vowed to continue his commitment to supporting youngsters in the region. The documentary will focus on 'the heart of Uganda's Masaka region, where the shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger, a small orphanage becomes a beacon of hope'. Netflix said: 'Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within goes beyond the viral videos to reveal a vibrant, one-of-a-kind community where orphaned children transform hardship into joy, dancing their way toward healing, belonging and the promise of a brighter future.' There is also 'active development' on other projects with Netflix, which 'span a variety of content genres', including a feature adaptation of the bestselling romantic novel by Carley Fortune, Meet Me At The Lake. The Sussexes' most successful series has been Harry & Meghan – their controversial tell-all 2022 documentary about stepping back from royal duties and their struggles with the royal family. It totalled 23.4 million views and is Netflix's fifth most popular documentary series of all time. Harry & Meghan. Volume II: 15 December. Only on Netflix. — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) December 14, 2022 Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, said: 'Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. 'The response to their work speaks for itself — Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series. 'More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As Ever line consistently selling out in record time. 'We're excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.' Love is in the details. ✨ With Love, Meghan, a new series, premieres January 15. — Netflix (@netflix) January 2, 2025 Harry's other ventures included a documentary about polo, Live to Lead about inspiring leaders and Heart of the Invictus, following competitors in the 2022 Invictus Games. Season one of Meghan's With Love Meghan lifestyle series, which saw the former Suits star offer hosting and cooking tips as she entertained friends, was savaged by critics. One review in The Guardian described it as a 'gormless lifestyle filler' and 'so pointless it might be the Sussexes' last TV show', while The Telegraph gave it two stars and branded it 'insane' and an 'exercise in narcissism'. Its release coincided with the launch of Meghan's As Ever brand, which sells flower sprinkles, pre-prepared baking kits and jam, and in which Netflix is also a partner. The couple's other major media deal with Spotify ended in 2023 after one season of Meghan's podcast Archetypes, with one of the streaming giant's executives later branding them 'grifters'.
