Oprah’s Network: Brand Extension
Oprah launched OWN, her television network, over the weekend. What? You didn’t watch? Me, neither, although I expect I’ll tune on a quiet night in January when I’m sick of Judge Judy‘s bullying and need something more anodyne to put me to sleep. Reviews of OWN are mixed. One of the snarkier reports came from Matt Zoller Zeitz on Salon.com, who said that “One of the more disquieting aspects … is the pervasive sense (inevitable, I suppose) that this cable network is not just a programming venture and a brand extension, but a living monument to its creator’s power — and a celebration of her willingness to use that power as a force for good. We won’t just watch OWN; we will gaze upon it with awe and affection and marvel at the sweet magnificence of its founder.”
