The Jaw-Dropping Amount Of Money CBS Paid For The Meghan And Harry Interview
It seems everyone is talking about the highly-anticipated Meghan and Harry interview that is set to air on CBS this Sunday night. The sit-down with Oprah Winfrey has been touted as holding nothing back, with Meghan saying she feels "liberated" to speak for herself instead of having tabloids and rumors tell her story (via Page Six). Meanwhile, the interview is said to cover topics from how the former actress felt upon becoming part of the royal family, to her life in the spotlight, as well as motherhood, and marriage (via USA Today).
Meanwhile, as Page Six notes, both fans and detractors are likely to watch the two-hour event, which will also feature a chat with Prince Harry. And Forbes is reporting that CBS expects the interview to pull in a ton of viewers. With so much attention around the interview, one might wonder how much the former royals were paid for their participation.
Meghan and Harry are not making any money from the interview according to them
Well, apparently, according to a spokesperson for the couple, Meghan and Harry did not profit from the pre-taped tell-all. However, hold onto your tea — because when you learn the amount of money CBS paid for rights to the soon-to-be second time parents' revealing discussion with Winfrey, you are likely to swallow your crumpet.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the price tag on the rights for the interview with Meghan and Harry was upwards of $7 million, and may have cost as much as $9 million. The outlet reports commercial spots ran advertisers as much as $325,000 for just 30 seconds of air time — or twice the "normal" rate — while the deal with Winfrey's Harpo productions will allow CBS to air the interview online as well as across the pond in the U.K.
Forbes notes that competing networks NBC and ABC also bid for the rights to the interview, but lost out to CBS.
You can catch Meghan and Harry's interview almost anywhere in the world
Incredibly, the Harry and Meghan interview with Winfrey will air in 68 countries, including Australia, Croatia, Israel, Belgium, and 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, according to Daily Mail. Of course, people are most focused on the revealing chat being viewed in the U.K., with the royal family reportedly not pleased about the interview having happened at all, especially as Prince Philip is still in the hospital.
Consider a clip of what Meghan said in the interview that has already been released as proof, with the expectant mom saying about her in-laws, "I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. And if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, I've — there's a lot that's been lost already" (via NPR).
The Queen and other members of the royal family can hear everything Meghan told Winfrey when the pre-taped special airs at 1 A.M. Monday local time.