News | Entertainment
6 May 2025 11:44
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Jason Earles "got f*****" by his Disney Channel contract

    The 48-year-old actor found fame when he was cast as Miley Cyrus' older brother on the hit sitcom 'Hannah Montana' in the late 2000s and while he earned "good" money at the time, the technicalities of his contract meant that he didn't make as much as he necessarily should have done through royalties


    Speaking on the 'Night School' podcast, he said: "This is the reality of the situation. They are really good-paying jobs. Before being on 'Hannah', I was an extra, a stand-in and a substitute teacher, and being on 'Hannah' paid significantly more than those jobs. That being said, when 'Hannah' was on, the contract was before SAG and AFTRA merged, so it was an AFTRA basic cable agreement.

    "So, because of that, that is like the worst television contract that you can be under.

    "One of the ways you make your money is through residuals. So if they air the episode a bunch of times, you make money on the back side.

    "For 'Hannah', because it was that agreement, whatever they pay you above scale, they can credit back in your residuals.

    "Let's for easy numbers, say that scale as a series regular is $5,000 an episode. And then, because you're whatever, you sign your deal and they pay you $10,000 an episode.

    "So what happens is, they pay you $10,000, they air the episode, and the first $5,000 of residuals you should have gotten, they keep because they paid you upscale.

    "The double whammy was, at the time, usually a reuse, is that they aired it once, and it counts as one.

    "The after agreement said that if the episode was aired at noon, there was a full 24 hours to air as many times as they wanted, and it counted as one use. So I got f*****.

    "You're getting double d*****."

    Despite this, Jason is still "grateful" for the progression that the series gave him in his career and while he doesn't have the "generational wealth" that he feels he deserves after being a part of the billion-dollar franchise, he is "doing better" than others.

    He said: "All that being said, we did 101 episodes, we did a feature film, that show led to 'Kickin It', which was another 88 episodes. So on volume alone, and I'm a frugal guy, I saved money, and I'm doing fine.

    "I live in an apartment instead of a house, I feel like I should have generational wealth based on the 'Hannah' success. I don't. "But "I'm doing better than a lot of people, I'm doing better than my parents. So in some ways, I could be bitter or I could be grateful. "And I choose to be grateful.

    "I hope that I have more opportunities to make up the difference now that the contracts are better."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     06 May: Gigi Hadid has finally made her relationship with Bradley Cooper Instagram official
     06 May: Connie Britton wants to return to 'The White Lotus' - but only if it is filmed in Aspen
     06 May: Mika believes celebrity culture is "toxic"
     06 May: Beyonce has been sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding she drop some of the visuals from her 'Cowboy Carter' tour
     06 May: Joshua Jackson and Jodie Turner-Smith are locked in a legal battle about their daughter's school
     06 May: Salma Hayek says her greatest achievement in life has been watching her children grow up and become independent
     06 May: Joe Pantoliano is "so uncomfortable" with the United States right now
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Netball New Zealand have reassured players and coaches about an ANZ Premiership next year, despite no further progress on sorting a broadcast deal More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Government will make major savings over the coming years by outperforming on its housings goals More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Gigi Hadid has finally made her relationship with Bradley Cooper Instagram official 11:28

    Motoring:
    The motorcycle community is mourning the loss of a 29-year-old motorbike rider after an 11-bike crash during a race in England 11:17

    Politics:
    After its landslide win, Labor should have courage and confidence on security – and our alliance with the US 11:17

    Law and Order:
    Two motorcyclists die after 'catastrophic' crash during British Supersport Championship race 11:17

    Cricket:
    A bleak outing for the New Zealand B team on their cricket tour of Bangladesh 11:07

    Entertainment:
    Connie Britton wants to return to 'The White Lotus' - but only if it is filmed in Aspen 10:58

    Christchurch:
    Three people are in Christchurch Hospital, and another seven have been treated at the scene of a house fire in Mairehau 10:47

    International:
    Donald Trump's 'Greenlandic son' says US has given Greenland bargaining chip 10:47

    Rugby League:
    Canterbury are set to test the NRL league judiciary 10:47

    Entertainment:
    Mika believes celebrity culture is "toxic" 10:28


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd