After three years together, Piers Morgan has split from Rupert Murdoch‘s News U.K., part of his media giant News Corp, to focus on expanding his Uncensored YouTube channel.
Morgan’s production company Wake Up Productions Ltd. will acquire the Piers Morgan Uncensored business with a view to grow and diversify the brand, initially in the U.S. market. The wider aim is to “explore opportunities around the world to expand the Uncensored brand.”
The deal was unveiled on Wednesday as Morgan, a British broadcaster and ex-CNN presenter, said owning his Uncensored brand allows him “freedom to focus exclusively on building [the talk show] into a stand-alone business.”
News Corp will maintain “a commercial interest” in Piers Morgan Uncensored until 2029, the two parties said without disclosing the size of the stake or financial details.
Wake Up Productions has also contracted U.S.-based sales agency Red Seat Ventures, which has worked with former Fox presenter Tucker Carlson, to sell and grow sponsorship and other associated revenues for the Uncensored marque.
“I have had a great time working back at News and am delighted that we will continue to be partners,” said Morgan. “Owning the brand allows my team and I the freedom to focus exclusively on building Uncensored into a stand-alone business, editorially and commercially, and in time, widening it from just me and my content.”
He continued: “It’s clear from the recent U.S. election that YouTube is an increasingly powerful and influential media platform, and Uncensored is one of the fastest-growing shows on it in the world. I’m very excited about the potential for Uncensored.”
The often-controversial Morgan has 3.6 million YouTube subscribers, interviewing the likes of Donald Trump, Kevin Spacey, Benjamin Netanyahu, Cristiano Ronaldo and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Scott Taunton, executive vp, president, News Broadcasting, said of the deal: “This is a new business model which gives Piers flexibility to grow his own business by leveraging his position as a true global opinion former.”
English (US) ·