Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's Oprah Winfrey sit-down launches hot U.K. bidding war for rights to air

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UPDATE: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s first major interview since splitting with the British Royal Family has sparked a hot bidding war in the U.K. for rights to air the highly coveted sit-down, with ITV emerging as the frontrunner for the program.

Sources tell Variety that Comcast-backed pay-TV operator Sky and free-to-air player ITV were among those bidding for the CBS primetime special, hosted by Oprah Winfrey. It’s not believed that streaming giants Amazon or Netflix are in the running.

On Tuesday, a BBC source confirmed that the public broadcaster is not involved in the process. "The BBC is not involved in a bidding war on this," said the source. As of Wednesday, it’s believed that Sky is also out of the running, leaving ITV as the main contender.

It’s understood that ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group, which will be selling the program overseas, is keen for the interview to land on a free-to-air broadcaster, which would ensure a significant profile in the U.K. It will undoubtedly also come down to what platform Markle and Prince Harry prefer.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry currently reside in California with their firstborn Archie. They are expecting their section child. (Getty)

ITV, in particular, has a proven track record hosting content featuring the British Royals, notably the annual "Royal Variety Performance," which is attended by senior members of the Royal Family.

Markle and Prince Harry also gave one of their most high-profile interviews to date to ITV journalist Tom Bradby as part of the broadcaster’s 2019 documentary "Harry & Meghan: An African Journey," during which Bradby famously asked Megan whether she was okay — a very human gesture that Markle even referenced in her recent op-ed in the New York Times.

Other potential U.K. broadcast partners include ViacomCBS-backed Channel 5, which airs its share of archive-driven royal fare, as well as Channel 4. Channel 5 doesn’t have a track record of winning such high-profile interviews, and it’s not necessarily the most obvious home for the special, but ViacomCBS backing may help its case. Meanwhile, Channel 4, which aired an "Alternative Christmas Message" from a deepfake Queen Elizabeth II over the holidays, may not be the best cultural fit.

The timing of the CBS special is key, and would have caused problems for the BBC from an optics perspective.

Queen Elizabeth II annual Commonwealth broadcast will air on the same day as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's sit-down with Oprah Winfrey. (Getty)

The Queen’s annual Commonwealth broadcast is due to air on BBC One on Sunday, March 7, the same day as the CBS interview. Pre-recorded at Windsor Castle, the broadcast is part of the Anita Rani-hosted program "A Celebration For Commonwealth Day," which will also feature the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex.

Last year, the Commonwealth program aired at 2:15 p.m. U.K. time, but it’s still unknown when this year’s edition will air. If it airs in the evening, the BBC would have been looking at a near back-to-back block of royal programming.

The couple’s interview is due to air on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PST, which will be 1 a.m. in the U.K. The more likely scenario, Variety understands, is a Monday broadcast in the U.K.

It’s noteworthy that the streamers haven’t jumped on the CBS special, particularly as Markle and Prince Harry have a multi-year deal in place with Netflix. But it’s not altogether surprising: the most logical home in terms of viewership for such a high-profile, topical interview is undoubtedly a broadcaster, and despite the bitter divorce from the Royal Family and the barrage of negative press while they were living and working in the U.K., Markle and Prince Harry have their share of supporters and fans in Britain.

It was previously announced that Prince Harry will be partnering with Oprah Winfrey to create a documentary series on mental health for Apple's streaming service. (Getty)

Announced last week, Winfrey will first speak with Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, about stepping into royal life, marriage, motherhood, her philanthropic work and how she handles life under the public eye. The two will then be joined by Prince Harry to discuss their move to the United States and future goals.

The special is produced by Harpo Productions. Terry Wood and Tara Montgomery will executive produce, along with co-executive producer Brian Piotrowicz.