Kris Jenner recently received some good news with Hulu renewing “The Kardashians” for 20 more episodes. However, according to a streaming business insider who spoke exclusively to Life & Style, this extension might only be a temporary relief. The insider suggests that the show is on “borrowed time” due to the economic constraints faced by streaming services like Hulu.
“Kris wants the show to go on forever,” the source explained, “but the economic realities of the streaming world are creeping up on her whether she likes it or not.” This indicates that budget cuts across marketing, production fees, and episode counts are becoming inevitable as streaming platforms aim to maximize profits. To adapt, Kris may need to consider producing fewer episodes to maintain the show’s sustainability, despite her desire for a larger episode count.
Interestingly, while adjustments are necessary, Kris Jenner might not have to reduce her own salary. The source elaborated, “Because she isn’t just a producer, she’s also a star and her name is on the label. Stars still get paid like stars in streaming, but it’s everything else about these shows that’s shrinking.” This suggests that while operational costs may be reduced, key talents like Kris are still likely to command high fees.
“The Kardashians” has proven to be a significant draw for Hulu, with the premiere of season 5 in May reaching 3.9 million views globally across Hulu, Disney+, and Star+ within its first four days. Following this success, the series was renewed for season 6 in July, keeping Kris and her daughters—Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, and Kylie—in the public eye.
However, despite the renewal, the future of the show isn’t set in stone. With Kim Kardashian pursuing a new career path in acting, starring in a Ryan Murphy series on Hulu, her availability for the family reality show could be significantly reduced. “Kim is broadening her horizons and banking on her fruitful relationship with TV producer Ryan Murphy to become a full-blown dramatic actress,” the insider shared, adding that Kris is concerned about how this shift could impact “The Kardashians.”
Kris has always envisioned “The Kardashians” as an endless franchise, especially given the significant effort she put into transitioning the show from E! to Hulu and adapting it for the streaming era. But as Kim’s acting career demands more of her time, with potential 18-hour shooting days, her presence on the reality show might decrease by up to 80%. This has left Kris in a dilemma: she would prefer to produce fewer episodes with Kim fully involved rather than continue with multiple episodes where Kim is barely featured.
As the streaming landscape evolves and economic pressures mount, Kris Jenner must navigate these challenges to ensure the longevity of “The Kardashians.” Whether the show can adapt to these changes and continue to thrive remains to be seen.
