Is the Oprah Winfrey Network Receiving Low Ratings?

The launch of the Oprah Winfrey Network on January 1, 2011 was a historic accomplishment for Oprah Winfrey that was years in the making. Oprah is the first African American woman in the history of television to own a cable network. She created the network because she was inspired by her talk show and wanted to create great television shows that could be shown 24/7. Several of the hosts of some of the network's shows were frequent guests on her talk show such as Dr. Phil, Suze Orman, and Dr. Laura Berman. Oprah has also given her best friend, Gayle King, her own show.

Oprah's success with her talk show, book club, and the Oprah's favorite things show has critics wondering if she would have the same golden touch and success with her new network.

The launch of the Oprah Winfrey Network did create a lot of buzz and was constantly being promoted on entertainment shows and Oprah's talk show. But did all the publicity result in a lot of viewers?

Despite the network's positive and insightful programming, ratings for OWN were down during the network's fifth week of programming (Jan 31 - Feb 6). According to TV by the Numbers, the network's daytime ratings were down 17% among women aged 25 to 54 and primetime ratings were also down 34% among the same age group. The network's competitors, the Oxygen and Lifetime channel, received higher ratings during that week.

OWN is also receiving lower ratings than the channel it replaced, Discovery Health, even though the network has been on a little over two months.

Luckily, the Oprah Winfrey Network has seen an increase in ratings during it's seventh week of programming (Feb 14 - 20). Compared to week six, the ratings went up 15% during the seventh week of programming.

It might be too early to tell if the Oprah Winfrey Network will be successful because the network is brand new and still has a lot of growing to do. The network could receive more increases in ratings once viewers get use to the programming, more new viewers start tuning in, and more programs are added to the network.

Sources:

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/02/08/own-oprah-winfrey-network-ratings-keep-falling-now-well-below-discovery-health-women-25-54-averages/81904

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/02/23/own-oprah-winfrey-network-ratings-rise-match-discovery-health-2010-primetime-average/83605