Will Oprah's New Network Succeed Or Fail?

All over the world, Oprah has had a golden touch as her 25 year syndicated television show averaged as many as 12.5 million viewers a day. But last year, on what she hoped would be the opportunity of a lifetime, Oprah ended that show to concentrate on building her own television network, OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network), in a joint venture with the Discovery Network.

OWN was launched in January, 2011 but unfortunately has already gone through $312 million of Discovery's money with seemingly nothing to show for it but losses and more losses to come. But looks can be deceiving.

After acknowledging that she should not have launched OWN until she had completed the run of her 25 year show, Oprah is now concentrating on creating such shows as "Oprah's Next Chapter," "Super Soul Sunday" and other shows she believes will build a substantial audience. And she has been meeting with advertisers to assure them she is focused on making OWN a ratings and revenue winner.

Already there is good news on the horizon. In 2013, satellite and cable operators will begin paying many millions of dollars in broadcast fees to carry OWN. If ratings grow, so will the advertising and broadcast fees.

In her former syndicated talk show, Oprah reportedly was making $275 million a year, but she boldly walked away from it in order to create OWN, with the intent of offering an entire network of inspiring and uplifting programming.

Some broadcast investors and critics are skeptical as to whether OWN will succeed but I believe it will succeed. Oprah has overcome incredible odds since being born into poverty in deeply segregated Mississippi in 1954 to be where she is today and her mission with OWN is one that could profoundly serve all of mankind. Her current struggles are but another challenge and they are an opportunity for personal growth on her way to a greater level of success.

Dick
To learn more, please see "Oprah Struggles to Build Her Network," The Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304746604577382101741961484.html If the Wall Street Journal truncates this story to non-subscribers, please search this title and you will find it.