Discovery unveils Oprah's network

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ie9ac42d5eeee8158b36f27700f0c557f

Discovery unveils OWN slate
Oprah Winfrey network focus to be 'Best Life'
By Anthony Crupi

Discovery Communications on Thursday offered media buyers their first
look at what's being touted as the biggest idea since MTV, taking the
wraps off the inaugural programming slate for the start-up OWN: The
Oprah Winfrey Network.

Speaking at Discovery's New York upfront presentation, OWN CEO
Christina Norman revealed that the channel's programming is being
constructed around three organizing principles: Best Life All Stars,
Best Life Experiences, and Best Life Inspiration. (The Best Life
concept is Winfrey's catch-all for OWN's mandate to offer empowering,
transformative programming.)

While the full launch schedule will be announced later this year,
Norman said that the first wave of OWN fare would be comprised of
original and acquired programs, with plans underway for strips,
specials and theatricals.

"Our goal is to create an innovative experience for that broad
audience of people who are living their lives with purpose," said
Norman, by way of making her pitch. "Over the coming months, we will
unveil our schedule and opportunities for our audience to connect with
us and shape OWN."

Among the All Stars projects in development are: a Harpo-produced
strip helmed by frequent Oprah Winfrey Show guest Peter Walsh, who
makes his living as a professional organizer/clutter buster; a
one-hour sex and relationships talk show led by Sirius XM radio host
Dr. Laura Berman; and the expose/newsmagazine Inside: Lisa Ling
Investigates.

The Inspiration leg of the tripod includes a docusoap about a former
competitive surfer and the Harpo-produced Master Class, a series that
in Winfrey's estimation, profiles "the most extraordinary people of
our time."

Former Viacom CEO Tom Freston has been working with the OWN launch
team as a consultant, although he has intimated that he'll be stepping
up his efforts as the channel gets closer to going live early next
year. In February, Freston said that OWN is "as big an idea now as MTV
was (in 1981)," adding that the concept is "a great fit for our
economic era."

Of the more established Discovery brands, the company offered the
usual wide-ranging complement of new and returning series across
Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and emerging nets like Science
Channel and Investigation Discovery. (Citing the desire to keep its
competition in the dark, the flagship net didn't introduce any new
projects on Thursday afternoon.)
.

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