Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Osbournes forced off air over contract row

Louis Jury
Friday 17 May 2002 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The eagerly awaited series about the rocker Ozzy Osbourne and family which has won huge audiences in the United States has been forced off air in Britain due to a contractual wrangle.

MTV was due to broadcast the show from Sunday, but has pulled it from schedules at the last moment "due to contractual issues yet to be resolved".

The fly-on-the-wall series follows the real-life dramas of the family led by Osbourne, the former Black Sabbath frontman renowned for his years of boozing and drugs use.

It has attracted 8 million viewers in the US, making Osbourne a star and earning him an invitation to visit the White House. He has been added to the bill of the Queen's Jubilee concert in June.

An MTV spokesman said The Osbournes will premiere on UK television shortly and apologised for the delay.

ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 were all thought to be keen to screen the show but MTV said no UK terrestrial broadcaster would be able to buy the rights until after it had screened the series.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in