‘Oprah With Meghan And Harry’ Grabbed 17.1 Million Viewers

Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special was a popular watch on Sunday and attracted a viewership of around 17.1 million. The huge figure was quoted by the network, citing Nielsen data. The two-hour sit-down received a 2.6 rating among adults from 18-49. However, viewership is likely to grow even more, as people who missed the main event catch up with the explosive interview. Nielsen normally releases the official numbers for Sunday events late on the following Tuesday.

Oprah with Meghan and Harry largest prime-time audience

The viewership of Oprah with Meghan and Harry received the largest prime-time audience for any entertainment special on the 2020-2021 TV season. It was said to be the second-most live-streamed event on CBS since Super Bowl Sunday and the National Football League.

Preliminary figures for the event will give CBS a solid return. The network reportedly paid Winfrey’s Harpo Productions a $7-9 million licensing fee to air the special. However, Meghan and Harry confirmed they were not paid for their role in the interview.

As a comparison, more viewers caught Oprah’s interview than watched the Emmy Awards in September and last month’s Golden Globes combined. The controversial interview revealed that with streaming TV, some events can still drive huge viewership to normal network TV.

What came up on Prince Harry and Meghan’s interview?

Winfrey made it clear from the start that there were no subjects out of bounds for the interview. In fact, it delved deeply into Harry and Meghan’s decision to leave the UK and their royal duties.

The couple spoke of the lack of support received by Meghan when she approached the palace over her mental health issues. They also revealed that when their son, Archie was born, they were denied security protection. Signs of racism appeared with at least one member of the royal family being concerned over what color skin Archie would have.

Harry brought up comparisons between their life and that of his mother, Princess Diana. In fact, he said how happy and relieved he was to be sitting there with his wife by his side. Prince Harry also revealed that the royal family cut them off financially early in 2020. According to the former royal, they had to make do with the inheritance he received from his mother. Harry also mentioned that deals the couple made with Netflix and Spotify helped to meet their financial needs.

Less shocking news from the interview

Besides the shocking information relating to the royal family, Meghan and Harry also gave up some interesting information. For instance, it turns out the couple married in a small intimate ceremony prior to the official royal wedding. As noted by CNBC, Meghan and Harry also made a gender reveal by announcing that their second child, due to arrive this summer, is a girl.

Anyone that missed the interview can still watch it. The full, two-hour interview between Oprah, Meghan and Prince Harry can be seen on CBS.com for the next 30 days. It is also available on the CBS app for iOS and Android.