This was published 4 years ago
Seven lines up superstar Mariah Carey for The Voice
By Stephen Brook and Samantha Hutchinson
The Seven Network is courting US superstar Mariah Carey to be a judge on talent contest The Voice.
The network recently stole the show from under the nose of rival network Nine (owner of this masthead), which had broadcast it for nine seasons. Seven has promised to "supercharge" the format for its 2021 season, and installed Sonia Kruger as its host.
Mariah Carey is in the sights of the Seven Network to be a judge on talent contest The Voice. Credit: Invision/AP
Nine spent about $40 million on its version of The Voice, with a fair whack of cash deposited in the pockets of judges Deltra Goodrem, Guy Sebastian and overseas imports Boy George and Kelly Rowland.
Nine was happy to throw shade at its rival for poaching the format. "Unfortunately due to the age of the show and declining demographic profile, The Voice had become by far the poorest financial performer on our slate. We wish Seven well in their quest to revive yet another Nine show," a Nine spokesman said.
The fate of the judges is uncertain. But CBD has learnt that Seven West Media chief executive James Warburton, who plans to cut the program's costs to about $20 million, is wrapping up negotiations with Carey to appear in the series next year. If successful the signing will be a formidable statement of competitive intent against his free-to-air TV rivals.
During her career, Carey has sold more than 200 million records globally.
The 50-year-old singer is also the former fiancee of Crown Casino billionaire James Packer. The couple split in 2016 after fellow mogul Kerry Stokes, owner of the Seven Network, stalled the wedding by grounding Packer’s jet in Israel so the younger billionaire could deal with his personal issues.
Packer told The Sydney Morning Herald on the weekend: "I wish her well."
Carey is about to hit a publicity wave, with her new memoir, The Meaning Of Mariah Carey, published on Tuesday.
She is no stranger to talent contests, having judged American Idol on the US Fox network in 2013, which led to a headline generating feud with younger singer Nicki Minaj.
Seven declined to comment to CBD on Monday.
No doubt Warburton will be hoping for a relaxed quarantine system by the time the series starts to film next year. CBD can’t imagine a fortnight’s quarantine at the Ibis Darling Harbour will meet Carey’s exacting standards.