Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Oprah Gets Her 'OWN' TV Network

Omnipresent magnate continues march to multimedia domination

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 15, 2008 12:35 PM CST

(Newser) – Oprah Winfrey is launching her own TV network, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Oprah Winfrey Network, aka OWN, will be a collaborative enterprise with Discovery. OWN will replace the flagging Discovery Health channel in mid-2009. The channel’s programming will be managed by Oprah and in her “own voice,” a spokeswoman says, and Oprah described the enterprise as "a natural extension of my show."

But it won't feature her daytime talk show when it debuts. The "Oprah" show has syndication deals that run into 2011, and even after they expire, the pact announced today doesn’t require moving it. For Discovery, the arrangement has huge potential: It weds Discovery Health’s wide cable and satellite distribution with one of the most powerful American brands.

Oprah Winfrey Network logo.  (PRNewsFoto/Discovery Communications)
Oprah Winfrey Network logo. (PRNewsFoto/Discovery Communications)   (Associated Press)
Producer Oprah Winfrey poses at the premiere of the film The Great Debaters in Los Angeles in this Dec. 11, 2007, file photo. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, file)
Producer Oprah Winfrey poses at the premiere of the film "The Great Debaters" in Los Angeles in this Dec. 11, 2007, file photo. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, file)   (Associated Press)
Producer Oprah Winfrey poses at the premiere of the film The Great Debaters, in Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Producer Oprah Winfrey poses at the premiere of the film "The Great Debaters," in Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)   (Associated Press)
Producer Oprah Winfrey poses at the premiere of the film The Great Debaters, in Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Producer Oprah Winfrey poses at the premiere of the film "The Great Debaters," in Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Oprah Winfrey: Sorry for Begging for OWN Viewers

In Oprah Interview, Christie Has Praise for ... Obama

Oprah's New Talk Show Notches Lackluster Debut

Ryan O'Neal: Tatum Drama All Oprah's Fault

Jenny McCarthy Chooses NBC Over Oprah


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne