The downfall of OWN may have ended as the network has not only stabilized, but increased viewership in 2012. The Discovery Communications-owned channel was up 30% in total viewers in the last year, but it still has a long way to go to get the premium numbers some other cable channels are able to bring in. Now, Oprah Winfrey has spoken out about the new programs and Oprah’s Next Chapter guest appearances in the works for 2013.
Likely because Oprah is at the center of Oprah's Next Chapter, that program has been a great success on OWN. Oprah has plans in the works to do a follow-up to the network’s Whitney Houston special, which will chronicle how Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston, is doing a year after her famous daughter’s death. Additionally, Oprah has plans to spend some time with Drew Barrymore in her home and with LL Cool J and his family in his home.
According to THR, in 2013 Oprah will premiere a new show following comedienne Kym Whitley, a show following a New Orleans High School that is having difficulties in the academic department, and a show following a dog groomer who used to be a mobster. Yes, you read the last part of that sentence correctly. These programs, along with the previously announced programming from Tyler Perry should all help to flesh out OWN’s audience even more. Hopefully, OWN’s New Year’s resolution was to continue to improve in the ratings, and more original content should help the network to continue to grow.
