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?