How the Kardashian family pivoted from cable television to a global streaming powerhouse
In short: After twenty seasons on E!, the Kardashian-Jenner family abandoned traditional cable to redefine their brand on Hulu. This strategic migration, produced by the British firm Fulwell 73, transformed their reality format into a premium streaming juggernaut, proving that even the most familiar faces can successfully reinvent their digital footprint.
The transition began in September 2020, when the family announced the conclusion of their long-running series, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. By December of that year, the family had secured a multi-year exclusive deal with Hulu. Khloé Kardashian noted that remaining on cable no longer aligned with their brand, prompting a shift toward the streaming model. The new series, titled The Kardashians, premiered on April 14, 2022, executive produced by figures including Ryan Seacrest and the family members themselves.
The production represents a significant evolution in scale and distribution. While the original series was a staple of NBCUniversal's E! network, the new iteration is produced by the British company Fulwell 73. It is distributed globally on Disney-owned platforms, including Disney+ and the Star hub. This international reach has yielded substantial metrics; by November 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger identified the program as the most-watched unscripted series in Hulu's history. The fifth-season premiere in May 2024 alone garnered 3.9 million views across Hulu, Disney+, and Star+ within its first four days.
Despite the commercial success, critical reception has been measured. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 31% approval rating for the first season, with critics suggesting that the novelty of the family's lifestyle may have waned. Metacritic similarly categorizes the series with a weighted average score of 49 out of 100, indicating mixed reviews. Nevertheless, the viewership data suggests a resilient audience, with Disney reporting that interest in earlier seasons surged by up to 187% following the release of the fifth season, demonstrating the enduring pull of the franchise in the streaming era.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Kardashians
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