Netflix Ends Partnership With Meghan Markle’s Lifestyle Brand Amid Content Delays
Los Angeles, Friday, 6 March 2026.
Netflix has exited its partnership with Meghan Markle’s ‘As Ever’ brand following the cancellation of her promotional series, signaling a strategic retreat as other high-profile projects remain stalled in development.
Strategic Divergence and Brand Independence
Streaming giant Netflix (NFLX) has confirmed the decoupling of its production arm from ‘As Ever,’ the lifestyle brand founded by the Duchess of Sussex. This decision comes in the wake of the cancellation of the promotional series “With Love, Meghan,” which will not proceed to a third season following a decline in viewership ratings [1][2]. According to a Netflix spokesperson, the separation aligns with the original intent for the venture, stating that Meghan Markle will continue to grow the brand independently as it enters its next chapter [1]. While the streaming partnership has contracted, representatives for ‘As Ever’ maintain that the brand has experienced meaningful growth and is positioning itself for the year ahead [1].
Audience Engagement and Digital Metrics
The cancellation of “With Love, Meghan”—which served as a primary promotional vehicle for the lifestyle commerce venture—highlights a disconnect between the content’s performance and the streaming platform’s renewal thresholds [1]. Despite the show’s cancellation due to falling ratings, digital interest in the brand itself showed resilience in the months leading up to this split [1]. Data indicates that website traffic for ‘As Ever’ rose from 196,800 visits in October 2025 to over 268,000 visits in January 2026, representing a growth of approximately 36.179 percent over the quarter [1]. However, industry insiders suggest that without the sustained broadcast platform, the brand’s distribution strategy faces new challenges [1].
Production Stalls and Deal Restructuring
This development marks another contraction in the commercial relationship between Archewell Productions and Netflix, which began with a historic $100 million exclusivity deal signed in 2020 [2]. In August 2025, this arrangement was restructured into a “first-look deal” at a reduced valuation, granting Netflix the right of first refusal on new projects rather than guaranteed exclusivity [2]. The revised terms reflect a broader industry trend toward performance-based scrutiny; insiders note that if the production company fails to deliver viable content soon, the longevity of even this reduced agreement could be in jeopardy [2].
Status of High-Value IP Assets
Beyond the lifestyle sector, scrutiny has turned to the Sussexes’ scripted and documentary slate, where significant capital remains tied up in stalled development. Most notably, the film adaptation of Carley Fortune’s novel “Meet Me at the Lake” remains in limbo; Netflix reportedly acquired the rights for approximately $3 million, yet the project has no attached cast or director after three years in development [1][2]. Additionally, the documentary “Cookie Queen,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2026, has yet to secure a distribution deal, further complicating the production company’s output narrative [1]. Industry analysts observe that a three-year development cycle without tangible progress is considered a negative indicator for project viability within the current streaming economy [1][2].