Oprah is getting her own tv network
Posted by Media Outrage on January 15th, 2008
Everyone’s favorite talk show host and one and only Queen of media Oprah Winfrey is expanding her already huge empire by getting her own television network named OWN Oprah Winfrey Network.
Discovery Communications and Winfrey announced a deal Tuesday where the Discovery Health network will be turned over to Winfrey next year, becoming OWN — the Oprah Winfrey Network.
The cash-free transaction involved Winfrey turning over her Web site to Discovery, while the communications company makes her chairman of the network, which is currently seen in 68 million homes, said David Zaslav, Discovery Communications chief.
“The focus of the channel will be the focus of Oprah’s brand, which is to educate and inspire people to live the best life they can,” Zaslav said.
Some of Winfrey’s stable of regular contributors could be expected to be part of the programming, he said. Winfrey’s current talk show, as well as rights to use of reruns, is spoken for until the end of the 2010-11 season.
Besides hosting syndication’s top-rated talk show, Winfrey puts out her own magazine.
Oprah and Discovery will each own %50 of the network but OWN will be an independent company. Discovery said Winfrey will have “full editorial control” over the joint venture, with responsibility for “programming, branding and creative vision.” In a statement, Winfrey said the network “is the evolution of the work I’ve been doing on television all these years and a natural extension of my show.” Winfrey and Discovery will begin the search for a CEO to run the network.
That’s huge for her. We love to see her continue to grow and just freaking take over everything that’s what’s up. She’s so much bigger than other celebrities, like the only celebrity more famous is perhaps Michael Jackson. But she is still on another level business wise.
January 16th, 2008 at 4:09 am
Just did a thing on this, myself. Interesting bloggings… I’m going to blogroll you. If this bothers you, let me know.
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January 18th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
[...] are speculating whether her real estate purchase in NY has anything to do with her possibly running Oprah’s newest business endeavor OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) that she struck with [...]
March 5th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
can I correspond with Gayle King I have a question to ask her.?I live at 440 East 79 street- email- jackiegeffke@yahoo.com (212)517-3634
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May 12th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
[...] show’s distribution contract ends in 2011, but Oprah is looking forward to her own network and promises that it will be more expansive than anything she’s ever developed: “My intention [...]
February 1st, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I WISH HER THE VERY BEST,HER PRESENCE ON TV IS:FAVORABLE,ALLOWS YOU TO FELL VERY CONNECTED TO HER VIEWERS,SHE WILL SUCCEED IN ALL SHE DOES.THANK YOU JACKIE GEFFKE.
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