Prime Video to stream first seven seasons of The Apprentice in US as Amazon strengthens Trump ties
The US version of The Apprentice was produced by Mark Burnett
Amazon’s Prime Video has revealed that it will begin exclusively streaming the first seven seasons of Donald Trump-fronted reality TV juggernaut The Apprentice in the US.
The series, which debuted in January 2004 on US broadcaster NBC, comes from MGM Alternative and UK-born super-producer Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank), who was appointed as Trump’s special envoy to the UK in December.
Season one of The Apprentice launched on Prime Video on March 10, with a new season set to be added to the service each week until April 27.
Trump, whose second term as US president began on January 20, said in a press release: “I look forward to watching this show myself – such great memories and so much fun, but most importantly, it was a learning experience for all of us.”
Burnett said: “The Apprentice is one of the best shows I ever produced. The charismatic onscreen presence of President Donald J Trump made it a bona fide hit. Now, thanks to Prime Video, a whole new audience will experience a new season every Monday.
“This show is a love letter to New York City. Survivor grew an entirely new massive audience as result of old seasons being binged during the pandemic. On Monday, March 10, this same phenomenon will begin again… with The Apprentice.”
Both Burnett and Trump executive produced the show, which is credited with helping to create Trump’s on-screen television persona that led to his political career. The series was a massive hit for NBC with S1 drawing an average audience of 20 million viewers and 28 million tuning in for the finale.
At the start of the year, Prime Video announced it had exclusively licensed a documentary feature on Trump’s wife, US First Lady Melania Trump, directed by Brett Ratner.
Industry trade publication Puck later reported that Amazon was paying US$40m for the doc, which promises “an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look” at Melania, and a follow-up docuseries.
Under a previous deal with MGM Alternative, Fox-owned AVoD platform Tubi held the exclusive rights to all 15 seasons of The Apprentice.
Trump hosted the US version of the show for 14 seasons, including spin-off The Celebrity Apprentice, while Arnold Schwarzenegger hosted the 15th. The format has been adapted in more than 20 territories.
