So, let’s put some balance into the discussion about OWN and Oprah. 

Why do we live in a world that is quick to tear down…or interested in seeing someone fail as opposed to succeeding?  It seems like the bigger the fall, the bigger the story.  Is this our true culture and what we have become?  Or are all of the other networks afraid of what OWN is capable of?

When watching last night’s Joy Behar on CNN, she had a 3 minute discussion with 3 people that I have never seen before.  One told me that Oprah doesn’t have a brand and she’s not going to be successful because she is not open about her life. Credibility totally lost there.  Another told me that 42 minutes of nice is good….but not 24/7.  Again, clearly this person hasn’t watched OWN to know anything about the programming.  While I am busy advocating for lighter programming that makes me laugh and feel good, this non-OWN watcher on Joy’s panel is clearly missing some of the heavy programming that has been part of the OWN lineup so far.

So as a self-proclaimed OWN Expert let me say this.  Oprah has been an open book.  We do not need to see her private discussions with family to know who she is. Her brand – or her name really – signifies something to everyone.  When you hear her name, you have an opinion.  What that opinion is, is your own.  Oprah has found that being positive and being her authentic self gives her power.  It’s not a secret…she’s been teaching this for years.  While others have built fortunes around fear and negativity, Oprah has kept her “brand” really very simple – positive. 

But wait…it’s not her “brand” that we are talking about entirely.  The Oprah Winfrey Network has been created to build onto this thing Oprah has tapped into – that people are interested in being happy, they are thirsty to learn and have a need to feel connected with others in the world. 

So, here is what I know for sure.  OWN will be a successful network.  OWN will build it’s programming and it’s people over the next few years.  Oprah introduced many of us to Dr. Phil, Nate Berkus, Suze Orman and Dr. Oz.  With OWN, I suspect there will be many more introductions with people that will enrich our lives, help us become better human beings, show us how to live with happiness, and shine light into where we need it.  People can talk in the dark all they want…but deep down, every single one of them knows…the Oprah Winfrey Network will find it’s voice and when it does, watch out.