Developing and Managing Products

Oprah Winfrey will be introducing some new shows for the “OWN” network.  The “OWN’ network had a profit loss since 2008.  Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications had a profit loss for $600,000 million, of which $330.000 was Oprah Winfrey. The problems with the Network were the rating. Oprah decision lack of appearance on the Network and cancellation of poorly preforming shows put the OWN Network in danger.

Oprah’s decision to acquire high rating, she started a series called “Oprah's Next Chapter”. In the decision of Oprah Next Chapter, she interviewed high profile people. In Season One (2012), Oprah will interviewed Aerosmith (Singer),Paula Deen’s (Southern Chef), Lady GaGa (Singer), Paris Jackson(Michael Jackson's daughter),Usher Raymond( Singer), Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson,(Rapper), Rihanna (Singer), and Bobbi Houston( Whitney Houston’s daughter). Season Two 2013 – Oprah even more of a list of high profile people to interview.

Oprah has to figure out a way to keep the rating and not lose them. Oprah feels that to keep the rating high; she will have to target women ranging from 25 and older. She has noticed with that strategy the numbers have been tripled-digit in rating. 

Her new product to the line of promotion is an exclusive partnership with Tyler Perry. He is an awarding winning Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Playwright, and Producer. His introduction to the OWN Network will be two scripted series which will premiere in Mid-2013. All Oprah’s production has been live viewed, now the hope of Tyler Perry his will be scripted. Oprah has stated “I have been looking forward to the day when we would be in the position to enter the world of scripted television. That day has come".

As of November “OWN” Oprah Winfrey Network ratings has gains for the ninth consecutive month of growth across the board.  Discovery has noted that they expect the joint venture to turn profit before 2012 and for 2013. “Nielson data showed that about 770,000 people tuned in for the first hour of OWN on New Year’s Day, and almost 1.2 million watched two prime-time episodes of “Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes,” a reality show about the last season of her talk show.  I guess all the viewers wanted to see “Oprah Winfrey” and, now she doing what has made her famous being a talk show host for “OWN”.