Report: Oprah’s OWN Network Plans ‘Reboot’ To ‘Win Back’ Viewers Two Months After Launch

by Mark Joyella | 9:57 am, March 8th, 2011

» 16 comments

The New York Post‘s Michael Shain reports Tuesday that the Oprah Winfrey Network faces a “reboot” in an effort to “win back” viewers. Shain suggests “network officials have quietly been telling worried advertisers that OWN…will begin reshuffling its lineup in the next few weeks and investing millions” to fire up the fledgling channel.

OWN, which started two months ago with a flurry of media buzz and millions of dollars in promotion, has seen viewership dip–at one point even sliding below the levels of the Discovery Health channel, which was shelved to make room for OWN. To address that, the network’s biggest hit, Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes, will move to Sunday night:

“Ever since the launch, they’ve been kind of dark,” said one media exec close to OWN. “The intention is to get back out there and let people know.” Moving “Behind the Scenes” — which chronicles the final season of Winfrey’s daytime talk show — from Friday to Sunday night is the first step.

Shain reports there’s a lot on the line for OWN, which launched with platinum-level advertiser support:

Advertisers like Procter & Gamble agreed to pay the network $100 million for the first three years, unprecedented for a cable channel that was started from scratch, based solely on Oprah’s reputation.
OWN soon will have to show that it can deliver Oprah-sized audiences — and so far that has eluded them.

New York Post, Oprah Winfrey, own network

BatBoy

Maybe Oprah could get some help from NPR and their new found friends the Muslim Brotherhood.
The_Reasonable_Lib

I know the right loves this; a powerful liberal black woman failing at something.
justanotherconservative

OHMYGOD!!!! NO!!! TELL ME IT AIN’T TRUE!!! OPRAH FAILING. I DON’T BELIEVE IT.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

Hate to break the news to you libs, but Oprah and the Gore channel are going to be losers. Hey Charlie Sheen help them out.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

The_Reasonable_Lib said:
I know the right loves this; a powerful liberal black woman failing at something.

The irony being that the only person making stereotypical judgments about people base don skin color here is you.
BatBoy

The_Reasonable_Lib said:
powerful liberal black woman failing at something.

I believe you have it backwards. It is the liberals who want to keep the Black Community in perpetual failure, it is a way of keeping that voting base in tact. Keep them in the hood, make them dependent on govenment assistance…it is what you do.

Pretty sad, but that is what you lefies like to do.
http://www.snowspot.net Snowspot

BatBoy said:
Maybe Oprah could get some help from NPR and their new found friends the Muslim Brotherhood.

NPR gets 2 percent of it’s funding from the US, it’s really not a big deal :P

You don’t know anything about egypt, and you don’t know anything about the muslim brotherhood, so please, let the adults talk :)

News to Tea Party, just because you’re at NPR doesn’t mean you can’t be liberal, you guys are real idiots XD
Emma

I’m a liberal and have no use for Oprah or OWN. She’s a wonderful person, a true philanthropist but I’m not interested in watching her channel or any of her shows.
TeaPartyPatriot

Just what we need: more ALL BLACK, ALL THE TIME bs on cable. But remember folks – it ain’t racist if it’s black.
CAconservative

You can trace Oprah’s loss in viewership directly to her sycophantic support of Obimbo.
Paul G

I just clicked this to comment..”She’s SOooooo ’80′s..!”
Nobodys_Stooge

And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel, And YOU changed the channel!!!
X-3

Is there some sort of wierd echo from above? No matter, OWN doesn’t “own” me and never will.
john

Oprah needs to give Iyanla her own show to help win ratings. Iyanla has so much deepth and soul to offer oprah’s viewers. The Judds, Tatum and ryan o’neil, fergie, offer no substance and wisdom to viewers . Oprah gives her buddy
Gayle a show and it’s dull as hell. The one that Oprah cut loose is the one who can save some of her boring failing network. Wake up Oprah and swallow your pride !!!! hello !!!!!!!!
Jamiesmith

shut up a whole. How many black shows do you see on OWN. Foolio!
Anonymous

If she would have save One Life to Live and AMC. She would gained the love of all million and generations of viewers. Ask the chew and revolting-otion.