Public Not Interested in OWN?
One week ago today Oprah announced that she would be premiering her OWN television network in 2009 -- so, is the general public interested in The Oprah Winfrey Network? Not quite.
The AOL Entertainment News Channel conducted a poll asking the question "Does an all Oprah Winfrey TV network appeal to you?" and the response was overwhelmingly negative. Of the 3130 people that have voted as of today, 78% said NO leaving only 22% who are looking forward to this cable addition.
I think audiences will turn around once more information comes out on the programming that is scheduled to appear on the network. "All Oprah all the time" isn't what the mission of the channel aims to be -- with all of the "friends" Oprah has, fans can expect many of them to appear on the network in one way or another. Who wouldn't like to watch if Nate Berkus is given his own design show or if Maya Angelou were to host a show interviewing famous authors?
Once The Big Give premiers this spring, audiences will get a taste of what is possibly to come from OWN, and whether it will be a huge success or not -- judging from Oprah's current media empire, it will be!
Comments
Im highly upset over this matter. From what Ive heard, she’s bought the Discovery Health Channel. That’s one of my favorite channels. It has the best programs health wise along with TLC…I dont care about Oprah’s friends wanting to have shows. Im not interesting in nothing Gail may have to say or anyone else for that matter. I think she’s gone too far. Ive had enough of Oprah. Its like an overdose. Why doesnt she do like Sally Jessie Raphael or Donahue and just disappear.
I’m looking forward to seeing what programming the OWN channel proposes. Unlike most television producers, Oprah has had the courage in the past to produce shows that are socially conscious, not just popular. I for one am insulted by shows like “Are you Smarter than a Fifth-grader?”. I’m hoping for better things from Oprah.