Discussions are not cheap when it comes to Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle.
CBS MORE 3.28%
pays a license fee of $ 7 million to $ 9 million for the broadcast of Mrs. Winfrey’s interview with Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, according to people familiar with the pact.
The two-hour interview is scheduled for Sunday on CBS at 8 p.m., after the popular “60 Minutes” network news store. Sunday is one of the biggest television evenings.
As part of the agreement between CBS and Ms. Winfrey’s production company, Harpo Productions, the network also has special licensing rights in international markets. In the UK, the interview will be broadcast on ITV on Monday. CBS is a unit of ViacomCBS Inc.
A spokeswoman for the couple said they would not be compensated for the interview.
CBS sought about $ 325,000 for 30 seconds of commercial time during the program, according to ad buyers, about double the normal price of advertising time during that time.
Harpo also launched Comcast Body
NBC and Walt Disney Co.
ABC, said people familiar with the situation.
Ms. Winfrey has ties to CBS. She had a brief stint as a member of the “60 Minutes” team and was a longtime friend of CBS News presenter Gayle King. In addition, CBS owns the company that distributed Ms. Winfrey’s daytime talk show.
Prince Harry and Mrs Markle said last year that they would be moving away from the British royal family. Their departure was rocky. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as is well known, wanted to make the trademark “Sussex Royal”, but officials at Buckingham Palace said no.
Sussex moved to Montecito, California and focused on various businesses to create audio and video content, including a five-year deal with Netflix. Inc.
this is valued at $ 100 million, according to people with knowledge of the transaction.
The couple no longer receives a scholarship from Prince Harry’s father, Prince Charles, or funds from the British taxpayer.
Interest in the interview flared up in recent days after videos were released promoting him, in which the couple talked about why they want to leave Buckingham Palace.
Big-ticket TV interviews were a basis of broadcast television. Networks fought each other to reach headlines or celebrities. While TV news divisions say they are reluctant to pay subjects for interviews, they often end up licensing filming or paying consultants high fees to land the subject.
In this case, CBS News is not involved in the interview and is not promoted as a news event. The special is scheduled by the CBS entertainment division.
—Max Colchester contributed to this article.
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It appeared in the March 6, 2021 print edition as “CBS to Pay Royally for Winfrey’s Sussexes Interview.”