Los Angeles, Feb 28 (IANS): The Kardashians reportedly threatened to leave channel E! before being offered a $100 million four-year contract for their show "Keeping Up with the Kardashians".

The "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" stars recently signed a new four-year contract with the channel for the whopping amount, but it's now been reported they had threatened to leave the network before securing the deal, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Claiming that Kardashian's matriarch Kris Jenner was lead negotiator for her family, a source told pagesix.com: "This has been in the works for almost a year. Kris is a fierce negotiator...She was playing major hardball and threatening to leave."

The 59-year-old star and her daughters -- Kim Kardashian West, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner -- have been starring in the E! show since 2007 and network bosses were keen to keep them bringing in viewers.

"E! needs them," the source added.