Prince Harry is on ‘hunt for new TV deal’ as he hires big shot exec
PRINCE Harry is reportedly on the hunt for a new TV deal after hiring a big shot executive.
The Duke of Sussex has hired TV executive Scott Moore as the new CEO of his first winter Invictus Games, which takes place in Vancouver Whistler in 2025.
Harry and Meghan have already been rocked after the manager of their Archewell Productions TV and film company walked out.
Archewell manager Bennett Levine - who worked on the flop Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan - confirmed he was quitting, less than two years in the role.
It follows a string of staff leaving the company, amid rumours circulating the Duke and Duchess are about to have their Netflix deal scrapped.
Now, experts claim Harry's new hire signals his ambition to push for a new broadcast deal.
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Mr Moore has a reputation for doing big sports TV deals and has overseen coverage of the FIFA World Cup and both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
He replaces Harry's friend and former aide Nick Booth, who took over on a temporary basis last year after two bosses were sacked in the Autumn.
Experts have said that his appointment is a big hint that Harry and Meghan will be using their "star power" to win a big broadcast deal for Invictus 2025.
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede told MailOnline: "Harry's latest move with the hiring of Scott Moore shows that he is one step closer to launching the Games with a big TV deal.
"Now that the Invictus Games has expended to hosting a winter event too its beginning to shadow both the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games and can become a major television event with the likes of Scott behind it.
"Harry and Meghan have the star power to drive the games and as we know its Harrys sweet spot and something he is clearly passionate about.
"The documentary he made for Netflix wasn't the hit hoped for but it did do what it needed to do and inform and educate people about the games, their purpose and their importance too."
The Vancouver Whistler Games will mark the first winter sports event in Invictus Games history.
The Duke of Sussex, a former captain in the British Army, founded the international sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans in 2014.
There have been six events since, in London, Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, the Hague and Dusseldorf.
The new appointment comes after Harry jetted to London to see his father on Tuesday following the King's cancer diagnosis.
It is believed he spent his single night in London at a hotel, rather than a royal residence.
Harry and Meghan's business flops
- Meghan had her upcoming animated series Pearl chucked out by Netflix while in the development stage
- Then 42-year-old was said to have been “uncharacteristically quiet”, following the loss of her £18million Spotify deal in June last year
- While Spare initially sold a staggering number of copies demand soon dwindled and a year on its popularity has plummeted with major retailers slashing prices in half
- Meanwhile, their Netflix documentary also took a hit and the duke and duchess are believed to have been paid only half of their reported £78million contract
- The pair were poked fun at by comedian Jo Koy at the Golden Globes for “being paid millions by Netflix for doing nothing”
- Harry’s series, Heart of Invictus, shedding light on the Olympic-style games he started for wounded ex-service competitors also flopped
- Archewell figures in December last year revealed a hole in the accounts after it received almost £9million less in donations than in a previous year
But he was pictured arriving at London Heathrow at 1.30pm on Wednesday - just 26 hours after landing - as he began his return journey to California.
Harry will travel with Meghan to Vancouver and Whistler next week for the Invictus "one year to go" celebrations on Valentine's Day.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex originally signed a rumoured contract for £80million in 2020 to work together with Netflix until 2025.
However, Meghan has since seen her desired animated series, Pearl, ditched by Netflix while in the development stage.
The couple launched their documentary Harry and Meghan last year, offering an insight into their relationship.
But the Sussexes disappointing documentary also took a hit with the couple believed to have been paid only half of their reported contract.
Harry and Meghan were even poked fun at by comedian Jo Koy at the Golden Globes for “being paid millions by Netflix for doing nothing”.
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Meanwhile the Duke's series, Heart of Invictus - which shed light on the Olympic-style games he nobly started for wounded ex-service competitors - also flopped.
Last month, the couple headed along to a film premiere for a Paramount Pictures film - the streaming giant's opposition - with experts claiming they were "desperate to be seen".