Tepid interest in Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt’s wedding might be a sign of tough economic times in the magazine world, according to sources. Even though the new season of “The Hills” was watched by nearly 3 million people and the couple has been a newsstand success in the past, no magazine snatched up exclusive rights to photos for their wedding this weekend.
Why? No one weekly was willing to spend the cash the couple wanted. In tough economic times, not just any celebrity can command big bucks, and the couple could theoretically make more money by offering the photos to all the weeklies instead of just one.
“The total number that (Montag and Pratt) used to get from exclusive photos is down. It’s sometimes better to go all round with the deal and ensure you make money and get exposure, particularly when television shows are involved,” said In Touch’s Editor in Chief Richard Spencer.
The couple didn’t comment on their strategy, but a source close to them said that now that everyone’s watching their bottom line, there was no bidding war to drive up the price, and this all-around deal was the best way to make a buck in tough times.
“They’d rather be on page 50 of Us, People, In Touch or Life & Style than be on the cover of a magazine like OK! that isn’t going to sell. They need to make money, and so does the magazine. The formula is changing,” said the source.
OK!’s Editor in Chief Katie Caperton said she couldn’t comment on the record about any deals, despite rumors that OK! made an offer the couple turned down.
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