International syndication rights and the children's money

Today Kate tweeted she did some "international press" over the phone with six countries. Even though the series is cooked in the U.S., could TLC be gearing up to sell the syndication rights to Kate Plus 8 and Jon and Kate Plus 8 to other countries? The series already airs internationally, including in Canada and England. But it has not yet appeared in dozens of other countries, especially in Asia--countries that may take interest in the cute brood.

Could the children's private moments be played around the world for years and even decades? Since residuals for syndication rights are usually negotiated upfront, does anyone actually think young Jon and Kate actually thought to include international syndication rights in their contract, or that these kids will see one dime of their money every time this show is played abroad?

Should networks be required to provide independent lawyers to their naive reality tv subjects when negotiating complicated, life-changing contracts, including complex international syndication rights? (We say, heck yes.)

Advocates have suggested Reality TV participants should be eligible to join the Screen Actors Guild, which works to protect its members' residuals and foreign royalties.

Jon to Kate: 'There are families out there that have several kids, people work normal jobs and things work out .... Reality television is not a career'

Jon speaks out during Kate's latest poor me tour, telling Kate to "Get back to normal life, simple life, provide for your family."

Meanwhile, Kate was hoping no one would notice a certain third wheel hanging around, an Audi sports car.

Photoshop courtesy of Kristi

Kate's real wheels exposed: The struggling mother has the nerve to show up in an Audi sports car after telling People how worried she is about her financial future

Kate admits on Twitter she owns no less than three vehicles. 


Including this two-seater Audi she bought in April, which she claims will save gas. After insurance, fees, and maintenance, how does she figure?

 Which is it, Kate, are you rich, poor, or just plain stupid? This is why lawmakers have to write laws protecting the hard-earned money of children in the entertainment business, because parents just like her cannot be trusted to do it on their own. Congrats, Kate, you're why.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20526134,00.html 

Kate: Savings for the kids is "not even close to what they'll need"

 
After six years of working these kids to death, why in the world do the children not have fully funded 529 college savings accounts by now, Kate? If you are handling everything, why haven't you managed their money properly? What have you done with the money they've worked so hard for? And shouldn't they be entitled to a little extra spending money beyond just a college savings account after all they've been through? We think you've pissed away and continue to piss away their money on manicures, pedicures, tanning, hair extensions, NYC trips, clothes, shoes, Starbucks, the mansion, and Nobu. And why did you tell Meredith Viera that the college funds were "ample"?


Watch this at WAAF

Remarkably, Kate is still crying poor

According to Kate's tweets today, she would love to help the victims of the recent tornadoes, but she doesn't have the resources. Kate says she will pray instead.

Kate has also tweeted she does not make the widely reported $250,000 an episode, and that she won't be taking the kids to Bald Head this year because no houses are available, or enrolling them in gymnastics because it's too expensive. When a tweeter questioned why she is working today and not spending time with her kids, she told them, Moms have to work.

She has been exploiting her kids for almost seven years. Is anyone actually buying this "poor struggling family" act anymore?

Kate still crying poor, says she doesn't have enough saved for the kids' college

Come off it, Kate!

http://tv.msn.com/video/tv/?g=128deb18-dca1-4953-b885-8ca49557c748
When asked if she could retire right now, Kate said sadly no. Then she blamed it all on Jon for the legal bills. Kate, why in the world have you not saved enough to retire right now? You've been doing this six years. The legal bills did not even start until just last year!
"The main goal of the show was to save for college." I thought the main goal was to preserve memories on film. That's what you always said before.
"All the truth, the facts the way it is." Why are you so defensive, Kate?
Unbelievably shocking mismanagement of the children's money.

BREAKING NEWS: TLC admits they didn't pay the kids and didn't have permits

TLC also says they will comply with Jon's request to stop filming the kids: "If the father of the children states an objection of the kids being filmed, we're gonna honor that."

Radar online has running commentary from the hearing ongoing today, in which Jon is reported to not be in attendance but is expected later for his testimony.

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/12/exclusive-details-jon-gosselin-and-tlc-battling-maryland-court-today