CBS Shelled Out for Harry and Meghan

Last night Meghan Markle and Prince Harry spilled the tea on why they fled Buckingham Palace for California.

In order to snag exclusive rights to the Oprah exclusive, CBS paid Lady O’s production company, “Harpo Productions,” between $7 million and $9 million. Talk about a princely sum.

Watching The Throne

We pledge to not devolve into a gossip column. Last year Prince Harry and Ms. Markle stepped down from the throne and relinquished their royal duties. As a result, the power couple no longer receives a stipend from Prince Harry’s father, Prince Charles, or funds from the U.K. taxpayers.

But with a premium lifestyle and not-so-humble abode to pay for, the couple has been hustling to bring in income:

• Last year they inked a Netflix production deal worth a reported $100 million.
• The couple also attempted to trademark the brand “Sussex Royal,” but were stone-walled by British officials.

For its part, CBS was going to try to make a pound sterling or two. CBS was asking $325,000 for a 30-second ad, roughly double the cost as other primetime Sunday events, but not nearly as high as some other events:

• The Super Bowl, easily the biggest night for advertisers, drew $5.5 million per 30-second spot this year.
• ABC has charged around $2-$3 million for 30 seconds during the Oscars.

the takeaway

A spokesperson for Markle and Prince Harry told the WSJ the couple didn’t receive any share of the licensing fee.