Business

Oprah Winfrey Network Lays Off One-Fifth of Staff

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oprah Winfrey’s struggling television network, OWN, said Monday it is laying off one-fifth of its workers and restructuring its operations in New York and Los Angeles.

The decision to let 30 employees go is a “tough” one, but the economics of a start-up cable network didn‘t fit with OWN’s cost structure, Winfrey said in a statement.

“As CEO, I have a responsibility to chart the course for long-term success for the network. To wholly achieve that long-term success, this was a necessary next step,” Winfrey said.

The responsibilities of the laid-off workers will be distributed among people with the network and its venture partners, Discovery Communications and Winfrey’s Harpo Studios, according to OWN.

The cable channel, which launched Jan. 1, 2011, endured a freshman year of executive turnover and missteps that proved OWN lacked a solid foundation on which to build. This was despite a Discovery Communications investment of a reported $250 million and counting.

Discovery executives will take a more active role in the channel, according to the announcement.

Neal Kirsch, chief financial officer of Discovery’s U.S. networks, will move to OWN as the chief financial officer and chief operating officer, reporting to OWN presidents Erik Logan and Sheri Salata.

Another Discovery executive, Lee Bartlett, will have joint oversight of business and legal affairs with an OWN vice president, Tina Perry.

OWN started as an ambitious new platform for Winfrey after she stepped away from her long-running, top-rated daytime talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” But viewership for OWN shows have been largely unimpressive, with one example being a short-lived Rosie O’Donnell talk show that was cancelled last week.

OWN got a burst of viewer attention this month for Winfrey‘s exclusive interview with Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, which drew 3.5 million viewers, the channel’s biggest audience to date.

From the start, OWN failed to improve on, or in some instances even match, the modest ratings and small audience earned by the low-profile Discovery Health channel it replaced.

As the new channel struggled for footing, Winfrey stepped in behind the scenes and became CEO and chief creative officer of OWN, bringing in her Harpo leadership team of Logan and Salata as presidents. She also increased her on-camera profile with “Oprah’s Next Chapter.”

“I would absolutely say it is and was not where I want it to be for year one,” Winfrey said in December. “My focus up until (last) May was doing what I do best, which is ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show,’ and giving that my full attention” until its conclusion.

Since September, according to OWN, it’s seen a double-digit increase in ratings and a network high cumulative of 40 million viewers per month.

___

Online:

http://www.oprah.com/own

Comments (62)

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  • Gonzo
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 9:11am

    I bet the hair and makeup people are safe, she needs all the help she can get.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Maxim Crux
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 8:50am

    I am waiting for it to come out that OWN received a tax payer bailout

    Report Post »  
    • turkey13
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 10:54am

      It was Gov backed start up stimulus money! I can‘t understand why the richest woman can’t get some money out of her purse to help these families in such hard times. I knew that the Lissie Odonal would turn off people – just the thought makes me sick. A lot of people are ticked that she promoted Obama and he has been such a flop.

      Report Post »  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 8:47am

    I am never happy to see someone fail who has given a lot of help to women and men over the years. If I didn’t like what she said, I changed the channel. If it was an interesting interview, I stuck around. I was never a slave to any program. Her life class has been interesting, at least some of it. Her poor political choices were her biggest mistake-and never doubt Rosie was a political thing. Maybe now she can shake it off and get back to what she does extremely well, which is interview. There are plenty of black channels, very few with good woman’s programs. Re-think it Oprah, do good in the world and get the heck out of politics.

    Report Post »  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 9:15am

      I have to agree with you that Oprah’s political choices were the thing that started alienating her from her audience, as were Rosie O‘Donnell’s before her. For me, it seems that these two people, and other like them, forgot that they were entertainers and became activists for whatever cause du jour.

      That may be what separates them from Ellen DeGeneres, who still steadily chugs along doing her thing. I don‘t happen to endorse Ellen’s lifestyle, or that of Rosie, either, but Rosie shoved up front with a combative attitude while Ellen just seemed to get on with the business of entertaining. Once again, it seems to me that Ellen‘s political stance isn’t hidden from view, but she doesn’t seem to parade it like Oprah does. And quite frankly, I never thought I would live to see the day where I was pointing out Ellen’s strong points over Rosie (really easy to do) or Oprah (much harder task).

      And let me state that I work a lot and rarely have time to watch TV, so other than seeing Rosie on The View (during a stint driving someone to and from chemo) and catching the occasional Rosie in interviews (while waiting for car repairs and maintenance) and seeing portions of Ellen’s show (in various waiting rooms) I have to come to the conclusion I prefer Ellen above the other two.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • 2theADDLED
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 1:16pm

      I agree the friends you surround yourself with reflect on your character.

      Report Post »  
    • freeus
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:32pm

      Good riddance. Big O helped get Big O elected, now she is paying the price with the rest of us. Stupid is as stupid does.

      Report Post »  
    • tnchick
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 4:08pm

      Too late. She‘ll never get those viewers back who didn’t appreciate her slobbering all over Obama. Stupid move on her part.

      Report Post »  
    • SECUREOURBORDERSNOW
      Posted on March 23, 2012 at 2:03pm

      Yep, Oprah lost me when she paraded an unknown around the country touting his genius. Puhleese, corpsman, 57 states (that would 57 member-states in The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation). And they say he’s not Muslim. Unbelievable that enough Americans could/would vote for someone who they knew nothing about. A real nobody out of Chicago. But now we know, three years too late that this is a radical trying to turn the USA into a fascist or marxist or communist country. Where all power is concentrated in DC? Where have the states been as far as states rights? Oh, right, all of them wanted the federal money so they went along with the weakening of states rights. Anybody but Obama, 2012 and no more Dems either.

      Report Post »  
  • cessna152
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 8:43am

    That’s because people want the truth. I’m ready to cut cable… I have a Roku box and watch GBTV, Netflix and MLB. Once in a while I’ll watch “Fox” but i get most of my news (if not all) from the internet. I believe (even though) there are a lot of brain dead people out there, man..many more are waking up.

    Report Post » cessna152  
    • 2theADDLED
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:44pm

      Only channel worth watching is TCM (Turner Classic Movies) the rest are full of garbage.

      Report Post »  
  • jacobstroubles
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 8:16am

    I sure hope she fires herself.

    Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 10:54am

      …and , yet annother lib-commie-socialist network goeing “south”. This is what 80%-or-more conservative nation] looks like…alsi how’bout those ratings of cnn–nbc–cbs–etc… .

      Report Post »  
  • David in OKC
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 8:09am

    Sorry for the double post. (Bad internet connection) Can’t wait for the Federal Govt. to start regulating it. I‘m sure it’ll work properly after that. (Sarcasm intended)

    Report Post » David in OKC  
  • fatsomann
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 8:05am

    I predict as long as she supports Barack Obama and his godless, humanist, race baiting agenda she will continue to experience a downward spiral.
    Rosie and the Rosie agenda was as far from Oprah’s mainstream American audience as she could get, maybe her next challenge should be getting Michael Moore a show on American values or weight loss.
    I do not understand how this woman, who professes a deep belief in God, is obviously a capitalist and enterprenuer, has attracted audiences of all races with peace and understanding, and has given so much to charity, cannot see Barack Obama clearly. She has way snooker’d her old audience and we have been seriously duped by her or she has been used and duped by this administration.

    Report Post » fatsomann  
    • ginger100
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 10:03am

      ever notice that avian species of similar plumage congregate with one another

      Report Post » ginger100  
  • David in OKC
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 8:04am

    “OWN got a burst of viewer attention this month for Winfrey‘s exclusive interview with Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, which drew 3.5 million viewers, the channel’s biggest audience to date.”
    _____________________________
    Darn the luck. Now Oprah’s going to have to wait until another famous black drug addict dies before her ratings go up again. Maybe she should try marketing to the “Hip-Hop” crowd. They seem to be killing each other at record pace. She could do a show a week on just that.
    Then she could have a spin-off reality show called “The Real Flash Mobs of Obama’s America”

    Report Post » David in OKC  
  • David in OKC
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 7:51am

    “OWN got a burst of viewer attention this month for Winfrey‘s exclusive interview with Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, which drew 3.5 million viewers, the channel’s biggest audience to date.”
    __________________________________________________
    Darn the luck, Now Oprah’s going to wait until another famous black drug addict dies before her ratings go up again. Maybe she should try her hand at marketing to the “Hip-Hop” crowd. They seem to be killing each other at record paces. She could do a show a week on just that. Then she could have a reality show spin-off entitled “The real flash mobs of Obama’s America”

    Report Post » David in OKC  
  • Bill Rowland
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 7:43am

    Oprah is a very astute business woman. Everyone makes a mistake now and then. The network is looking for an identity and bringing Rosie in was a big mistake (she brings down everything she touches). I look thru the channels looking for something worth watching and so far OWN does not have anything that appeals to me.
    Makes you wonder how much of her personnal fortune she is going to spend to keep this disaster afloat.

    OMG

    Report Post »  
    • paleoman
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 9:29am

      I’m sure 0bama will bail her out. She’s to BIG to fail.

      Report Post »  
  • 777kept
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 7:26am

    I don’t think the above comments look much different from the mean spirits on the left. The Lord tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. If you don’t see any productive outcome in your words why put them out there and give them life.

    Report Post »  
    • MYHEROISRON
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 7:37am

      Couldn’t happen to a more deserving Liberal POS … that’s what you get for voting for OBAMMY. I’m so happy at seeing you fail, OWS.

      Report Post » MYHEROISRON  
  • pavepaws
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 7:08am

    Who cares?

    Report Post »  
  • zebraone
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:25am

    To bad, so sad.

    Report Post »  
  • zebraone
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:22am

    What the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Oh wait that’s us, the non viewers, doing that. My bad!

    Report Post »  
  • Magyar
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:21am

    The era of ‘feel good’ has come to an end as millions suffer at the supermarket and at the gas pump. Her message no longer resonates as more and more American face the truth about what the left’s directive really is! Take a bow, Oprah and head to your California mansion –but don‘t overstay or you’ll have to pay more taxes. Hypocrite!

    Report Post »  
  • lisalake
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:19am

    In the infamous words of Rush… “I hope she fails!”

    Report Post »  
  • rancorkeeper240
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 6:03am

    Opra,turn your network into right wing wacko stuff,tell the truth,and you’ll make another billion$

    Report Post » rancorkeeper240  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 5:43am

    She will be ok, she supports obama and will get a bailout- .

    Report Post »  
  • The Jewish Avenger
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 5:32am

    OWN’d

    Report Post » The Jewish Avenger  
  • MsMarylou8
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 5:16am

    OWN really shouldn’t change programing every week. People want to know when to watch a certain program. And reruns the very next day!

    Report Post »  
  • Ramv36
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 4:22am

    Missed headline opportunity: “1/5th of Oprah‘s staff get’s OWNed…”

    Report Post »  
  • One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:56am

    If she could only lose a fifth of her wooly mammoth footprint Antarctica would melt a decade slower, that’s no conspiracy theory, that’s a fact Jack! ; )

    Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
  • getourcountryback
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:08am

    Buh bye O. I won’t miss you.

    Report Post »  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 3:51am

      I haven’t missed her since she left regular tv.
      G O O D R I D D E N C E

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
  • TurboCat
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:42am

    Maybe she should do a new program for 2012 called ‘The One’.

    Report Post »  
    • TelepromoterNChief
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 8:07am

      Are her ratings sink, she will make guest appearances on shows like The Apprentice or Biggest Loser.

      Report Post »  
    • ShyLow
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 12:53pm

      She should actively campain against Obama…or wear the badge of racist and communist proudly…She has to know by now,Obama is pure EVIL

      Report Post » ShyLow  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on March 20, 2012 at 2:02am

    Its Karma Oprah! Remember.. you do something wrong and it comes back to haunt you.. You shoved Obama down the throats of your audiences.. and now look at our country! Its come back to haunt you! Bye bye Oprah.. he doesn’t even give a flip about you..like all of the rest of us! Lord help us all!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • Ailene Wright
      Posted on March 20, 2012 at 9:22am

      I liked Oprah when her show was still fairly new. As time went on she seemed to have more and more of a political agenda and liberal views. I quit watching years ago. Have never tuned to OWN and don’t want to. Oprah is becoming irrelevant.

      Report Post »  
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