ARO thread 2

[OneHeartySnail]

To continue the discussion...

What next? What did the launch aim to achieve? Did it get the desired result?

Had they done this prior to the interviews, Netflix and spare then I could see it being okay, more for Meghan than Harry as I find him quite wooden on camera if he has to be serious. Everything they do is somewhat tainted now. It’s just a case of seeing if the American audience buys it. I’m hoping that they don’t try a do a beckhams as I can’t see them pulling that off.

Oh gosh. I forgot about that.

These sorts of shows are aspirational but who actually would aspire to have their lives? They just aren’t people that most would want to emulate, but maybe the American market is different.

That's true, these aspirational shows work because the celebrities have lifestyles you want to emulate, or they're people who are admired.

Is the plan to use this Netflix cooking/gardening show as a vehicle to sell ARO products? That might work if the target audiences match. I don't really understand what ARO is selling but if Meghan was planning to echo Flaminigo Estate, I don't think Netflix viewers are her target audience.

Someone mentioned Nigella above. She's got the posh cooking/entertaining show sewn up. I can't see MM presenting this. There's a lot about her being an exec producer, maybe she will be behind the camera.

Interestingly, I was listening to a Richard Osman podcast and he was discussing Netflix's financial model. Netflix have in the past thrown cash at creators to make big budget passion projects, Bridgerton excepted that doesn"t bring in the viewers. Content like MM's cooking show and the Polo thing will be quite cheap to make in comparison so I think Netflix will be aiming more towards those.

A cooking show that sells the products sounds dangerously close to QVC territory.

I think if the cooking show was to tie into aro it could now be problematic if the rumours on flamingo are correct, as in it could put a stop to it. I can see if aro was basically flamingo estate then making programs based on that , that it could work to an extent. The fundamental issue is she is so contentious and folks won’t want to see Megan making jam, or talking about friendship when she famously doesn’t keep friends.

I think the polo thing could appeal to the horsey community, or anyone curious in the sport. The horsey community is huge.

to some extent both seem like vanity projects and I do wonder if Netflix is fulfilling a contractual requirement rather than thinking either is a fabulous idea.

The problem they have is that to make it in the lifestyle arena you have to be able to come across as either charismatic or relatable and they struggle to to either convincingly.

Personally I hope they are successful in their next venture. It can’t be good for their esteem to be failing in such a public way. And maybe in the US they are liked.

They seem to believe that they're very successful indeed, so maybe they're happy with that.
Any failures - they blame other people.

I do wonder if Netflix is fulfilling a contractual requirement rather than thinking either is a fabulous idea.

I thought this - these ideas seem very "look at my swanky lifestyle" which is not a popular vibe in broadcasting at the moment.

(Unless of course they're going to be poking fun at that kind of thing.)

Plus PETA will no doubt be standing by, they're pretty anti polo on animal cruelty grounds.

But she’ll always know where the camera is, so she’s off and running.

I think this makes sense. At the end of their contractual arrangement next year, and when it comes to paying out/not paying out under the initial deal, not only will H&M need to show they came up with content, but Netflix will also need to show they didn’t just knock back every one of their ideas as unviable to scupper a bad deal. I do wonder if these ideas get leaked as a sort of informal public survey and gauge of interest pre production.

Also, does this mean the Africa documentary is shelved? Dr Tessa Dunlop (pro H& M rentagob for Pierce Morgan and DM) was adamant a couple of months ago it was going ahead, because her friend had been asked to participate in it. That was before the African Parks scandal though.

Having said all that: Polo and cooking. Privilege and wealth beyond the means of the plebs, and cock eyed feminism based on lifestyle not substance. I’m sure there’s a feminist theory somewhere saying these sorts of shows are designed to make ordinary, working women feel not good enough. It wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t such hypocrites about mental health and relatability.

Oh gosh, the video of that was excruciatingly embarrassing, I had 2nd hand embarrassment for her, she was so cringe, I didn’t realise it was a staged presentation. I bet that will be heavily curated if it does make it to Netflix.

Oh Lord. I’ve never seen the Santa Barbara polo trophy sequence of events. Toe curling. And yet such a good outfit. But god the toe curling.

The announcement about the polo series suggests it has already been filmed:

The second series confirmed by the Sussexes on Wednesday features a passion of Harry's, the sport of polo.
The series, which also does not yet have a title announced, is described as providing viewers "unprecedented access to the world of professional polo."
"Known primarily for its aesthetic and social scene, the series will pull the curtain back on the grit and passion of the sport, capturing players and all it takes to compete at the highest level," a Sussex spokesperson said.
The series was shot mostly at the U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida, according to the spokesperson.

Given we know Harry wasn’t playing at the US Open Polo championship, and there was no news that he attended it either, I wonder whether is like their Leaders production - something that they have picked up to release under their brand, and perhaps top and tail it with pieces featuring Harry?

Why don’t they get their own YouTube/Tiktok channels? They’d make a fortune and be fully in control of content and could sell what they liked.

The Netflix docuseries on the PGA tour didn’t do so well, and a lot of those players are well known outside golf, so not sure how a behind the scenes on polo will have a big audience reach.

I think a series which includes extolling the pleasures of friendship could go a long way to exploding the rumours that she sees friendships as utilitarian/transactional and ditches friends when no longer of use (or doors have closed because of invasions of privacy)

Of course, that will depend on who she has on.

I think people might watch it as there is a draw to "how the other half lives" shows. And loads of people have gone through a horse-mad stage so know a bit about equestrian stuff, but prob less about polo as it's not usually televised.

But it'll need to avoid showing bleeding ponies or ones about to die, which means it couldn't be fairly described as a full representation

She could have Serena Williams on. They could cook some fruitage together. That would blow my mind.

https://www.equisport.pt/en/news/royal-polo-pony-collapses-and-dies/

Harry needs to be careful.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1308528/Prince-Harry-faces-animal-cruelty-claim-polo-ponys-stab-wound-spur.html

I’m not one to get annoyed and complain or boycott things out of principle but if Netflix agree to let him do a show about Polo I will be complaining about this incident and I will cancel my subscription. This image really gets to me 😡

They do open themselves up to a lot of the criticism that comes their way. If I was PH I probably would have given the whole topic a swerve.