Rights to cover Oprah Winfreys interview with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle cost CBS minimum $7 million: Report

The interview of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now-estranged
members of the UK Royal Family, with US television show host Oprah Winfrey on
Monday cost broadcast corporation CBS somewhere between $7 to $9 million, as
per a report by Wall Street Journal. The two-hour long interview that revolved
around the couple’s time inside one of UK’s longest surviving institutions,
understandably dropped some bombs on the difficult situations and recurrent consternations
both of them had to face at times, and was apparently expensive for the network.

CBS, a unit of ViacomCBS Inc, also holds a contract with Harpo
productions, the production company that manages Winfrey’s show and is owned by
her. By the dint of the contract, the network holds the rights to air the
special in international markets.

Also read: British tabloids tear into Harry, Meghan’s ‘self-serving’ interview

Reportedly, the corporation sought $325,000 for 30-second
commercial windows from advertisement buyers, who have noted that it is about
twice the cost for an advertisement in the same time period.

Also read: The unanswered questions left after Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview

The departure for Markle and Prince Harry came last year, as
they stepped away from their roles within the Royal Family after what was
stated to be a considerably difficult phase for both of them, and moved to Montecito,
California.

Also read: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip not the Royals who made Archie skin colour comments: Oprah Winfrey

Neither Prince Harry not Markle currently receive any stipend
from Harry’s father Prince Charles, or the taxpayers in the UK.

In recent days, the duo has reportedly signed a five-year contract
with OTT streaming platform Netflix Inc, valued at about $100 million.