Oprah’s OWN Network Fires Nearly 30 People As Ratings Continue To Suffer
Oprah’s OWN cable station began undergoing some major cosmetic surgery on Monday. First came the firing of high profile talk show host Rosie O’Donnell and now it is being reported that nearly 30 people have been fired from the Oprah Winfrey Network. Among those people no longer employed are two high level executives.
According to TMZ people from at least three different departments were fired, including workers in the company’s creative services, integrated marketing and promo scheduling departments.
Among the networks highest profile loses are the head of the Creative Services Department and another Senior Vice President of Production.
Apparently Oprah didn’t play favorites, firing individuals with years, even decades of experience in the industry and newcomers.
One source tells the celebrity gossip site:
“It’s like a ghost town over there.”
While that source added:
“They did the firings respectfully … brought everyone into an office individually and explained the situation face to face.”
OWN has watched its ratings suffer since it first launched and the network’s part owner Discovery Communications said in its regulatory filing that it has paid $312 million to start and operate OWN, far exceeding its initial plans to offer $189 million.
In a statement Oprah Winfrey proclaimed:
“The economics of a start-up cable network just don’t work with the cost structure that was in place. As CEO, I have a responsibility to chart the course for long-term success for the network.”
Are you surprised to learn that the Oprah Winfrey Network has fired almost 30 employees or was her new cable network doomed for failure from the very start?
Tags : Cable TV, oprah winfrey, oprah winfrey network, OWN, OWN Layoffs
Posted: March 19, 2012
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Mar 20, 2012
I can understand as most people cant recieve the channel and most don't even know where its located.My cable doesn't have it.
Mar 20, 2012
Oprah needed to fire the executives, because the network has no real theme to it. There is way too much promtion on any show that Oprah will be in. If you have the channel on, it seems like they repeat the same promotion every fifteen minutes. There has been one hit, a reality show called "Sweeties" and it was entertaining. You never knew when the Rosie show was going to be on, the time and setup was changed several times. All in all, it needs a huge revision. This is the second time that heads have rolled. They need to get it right this time or I believe the network will be sold.
Mar 21, 2012
Oprah brought this on herself. Charma has a way of coming back to bite you. Fans begged her to help save their much loved (and viewed) Soaps All My Children and One Life To Live. Her answer..it's all about money. Well Oprah, you have your money and no one to watch your shows. Just think how many MILLIONS of viewers you could of had, but you chose to slap them in the face instead. You made your bed..now lie in it. Hope you have learned something.
Mar 21, 2012
Oprah brought this on herself. Charma has a way of coming back to bite you. Fans begged her to help save their much loved (and viewed) Soaps All My Children and One Life To Live. Her answer..it's all about money. Well Oprah, you have your money and no one to watch your shows. Just think how many MILLIONS of viewers you could of had, but you chose to slap them in the face instead. You made your bed..now lie in it. Hope you have learned something.