Kardashians sign a new deal with E!
E! thinks there’s even more to keep up with: The network confirmed Tuesday the Kardashian family has signed a three-year deal with it.
The pact gives viewers three more seasons of the network’s flagship Keeping Up With the Kardashians, taking the show into Season 9. The deal covers the entire Kardashian litter, including those who don’t boast the last name formally: Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian Odom, Rob Kardashian, Bruce Jenner, Kris Jenner, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner — and also extends the network first-look deals with the clan for unscripted ideas, concepts and projects.
The apple, it seems, doesn’t fall too far from the money-making tree.
News of the deal came a day after Ryan Seacrest, whose production company backs Keeping Up With the Kardashians, inked a deal with Fox to continue on as host of American Idol. Seacrest has yet to finalize an agreement covering the three years Keeping Up With the Kardashians will remain on the air, but likely will as part of an upcoming agreement with E!’s parent company, NBC Universal.
It’s only logical that E! would aim to keep the celebrity family on its roster. Keeping Up With the Kardashians has produced hit spinoffs for the network, including Kourtney and Kim Take New York and Khloe and Lamar, which is currently airing. The most recent season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians averaged more than 3 million viewers — a far cry from the less than 1 million it garnered for its premiere when it launched in 2007.
The 18-episode seventh season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians premieres May 20.