Oprah Gets $50 Million More From Discovery

Daniel D'Addario — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:20:50 -0400

Oprah Winfrey's OWN project received $46 million from its parent company, Discovery, in the last quarter of 2010 and will get $50 million over 2011--on top of their initial $189 million investment. Oprah's network has suffered from a great number of reruns--and lack of original programming--that have kept its earnings relatively depressed. As new programming, including Rosie O'Donnell's upcoming talk show, airs, the network seeks to maintain its brand--Oprah!--and advertiser commitments while building its audience.

As a programmer and producer, not all Oprah touches turns to gold: while Doctors Oz and Phil both have done very well in syndication, Nate Berkus's ratings have struggled to the degree that Dr. Oz engaged in a "crossover episode." One imagines that the end of her own daily show, in May, will come as a welcome respite--to allow her to organize the rest of her kingdom.

ddaddario@observer.com :: @DPD_

Observer » Oprah Gets $50 Million More From Discovery

Oprah Gets $50 Million More From Discovery