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They may have bit off more than they can chew however as the outcry was swift and loud. The Twitterverse was awash with criticism of the move which was branded “deplorable.”
Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A Primetime Special will be shown in the UK at 8pm on Monday, March 8, around 24 hours after it is first shown in the US on Sunday night.
Royal Family News – ITV Buys The Right To Air Bombshell Interview
It bought up the two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey for £1million despite dire warnings that it would represent a “diplomatic bomb” if the Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s health takes a turn for the worse.
ITV beat out Sky to the rights after the BBC declined to broadcast it.
Now experts are questioning whether ITV will make money from the deal if businesses choose not to advertise during the two hour show.
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Some ITV viewers have already vowed to boycott the show completely due to the “horrendous timing.”
Royal Family News – Will ITV Recoup Its Investment?
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline, “ITV’s decision to purchase the rights to Harry and Meghan’s highly sensational interview with Oprah is deplorable. Who knows how matters linked to the Duke’s health will play out over the coming days. ITV have made the wrong decision and they would do well to await events before deciding when to screen it here.”
Some have called on the couple to postpone their blockbuster with PR guru Mark Borkowski saying, “The timing is just horrendous. This could be a real reputational mess for everybody involved. I think brands have to take a considered view about whether they want their advertising anywhere near this.”
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Royal Family News – Will The Public Revolt Against ITV?
Royal watcher Phil Dampier said, “They can only hope and pray that the Duke recovers and goes home. If something happens to him it would look terrible. Even if Harry and Meghan wanted to stop it they probably can’t and it’s out of their hands.”
And one industry insider told the Mirror the interview would be a “diplomatic bomb” if it airs and Philip’s health worsen: “CBS has sold millions of dollars worth of advertising around the interview, but bosses are aware of the delicacy of the Duke’s health.”
The Mirror’s Royal Editor Russell Myers added, “The history is there with these types of interview – they never end well – this is a disaster waiting to happen.”
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