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'The response to their work speaks for itself': Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sign 'downgraded' deal with Netflix as streaming giant scales back $100m partnership
Netflix has signed a new multi-year agreement with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but it comes on a smaller scale than their once-lucrative $100 million arrangement.
The streaming giant confirmed on Monday that the couple's production company, Archewell Productions, had "extended its creative partnership with Netflix, with a multi-year, first-look deal for its film and television projects."
The new deal marks a step back from their original five-year agreement, signed in 2020, which was reported to be worth $100 million (£75m).
A source told The New York Times the updated contract is worth significantly less, signalling a loosening of ties.
Meanwhile, public relations expert Mark Borkowski told The Telegraph the shift represented a "downgrade" and suggested Netflix was "pivoting away" from the Sussexes.
In the press release, Meghan, 44, said she and Harry, 40, were "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," she said.
Netflix's chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, praised the couple's impact: "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."
Bajaria added that Netflix is "excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together".
Under the revised "first look" arrangement, Netflix will have the first option on film and television projects developed by the Sussexes, rather than funding their entire output.
Their upcoming projects include a short documentary, Masaka Kids: A Rhythm Within, which follows a group of Ugandan orphans whose joyful dance videos have become a global sensation, as well as a romance feature adaptation of the bestselling novel Meet Me at the Lake.
In addition to the second season of With Love, Meghan, the streamer said the Duchess will host a "magical holiday" edition, promising to show viewers how to "deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts and share lots of laughs".
The Duchess' As Ever brand, launched with edible treats such as jam and sprinkles, has recently expanded to include Californian rosé wines and is tipped to move into hospitality and entertaining.
Netflix said the brand "will continue expanding into new product categories with new items continuing to be released throughout the remainder of the year."
Netflix confirmed Archewell Productions is "also in active development on additional projects" across various genres.
Since its launch in 2020, Archewell has produced documentaries and reality programming, including Harry & Meghan, Live to Lead, Heart of Invictus, Polo and With Love, Meghan.
The couple's debut series Harry & Meghan was a global hit, pulling 23.4 million views and becoming Netflix's fifth most popular documentary series of all time.
But later offerings struggled to match that success, with Netflix's most recent viewing report showing With Love, Meghan failed to make the platform's top 300 shows.
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline's co-editor-in-chief for TV, described the audience numbers as "very low for a Netflix original- and pretty unprecedented for a show that has been renewed."
