OWN The Oprah Winfrey Network about living best life

November 6, 7:13 AMCable TV ExaminerChristine Nyholm

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David Zaslav and Oprah Winfrey
Copyright: Discovery Communications Inc.

The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) is a partnership between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Channel OWN's programming is built around three big ideas: Best Life All Stars, Best Life Experiences, and Best Life Inspiration. The full network launch schedule, to be announced later this year, will be a mix of original and acquired programs, with plans underway for strips, specials, and acquired movies.

OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, is the first television network about living your best life, will launch throughout the U.S. in early 2010 on what is currently Discovery Health Channel. Not surprisingly, the inspiration and Chief Creative Officer of OWN is Oprah Winfrey.

"This is just the beginning for OWN and what we envision will be a new entertainment experience for our audiences," said Ms. Winfrey, Chairman of OWN. "One of the things I love about my work is getting to meet extraordinary people who have done amazing things in life. So, for OWN, I will be hand-picking some of the most engaging and intriguing people of our time and giving them a stage all their own to share their stories and best life lessons with all of us. The unique series is called Master Class, and it will be a truly one-of-a-kind look at the world's most remarkable people.

"Our goal is to create an innovative experience for that broad audience of people who are living their lives with purpose," said Ms. Norman in making the announcement. "Over the coming months, we will unveil our schedule and opportunities for our audience to connect with us and shape OWN."

Projects in development, announced in an April, 2009 press release, include The Peter Walsh Project, Dr. Laura Berman, Excellent Adventure, Inside: Lisa Ling Investigates, Master Class and Surfer's Healing.

Best Life All Stars

• The Peter Walsh Project (working title): Peter Walsh is a de-clutter expert and popular guest of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Walsh will be joined by a team of experts in helping people uncover what is really going on in their lives behind the mess. This show is from Harpo Productions.
• Dr. Laura Berman (working title): Dr. Berman sex therapist, relationship expert, bestselling author, and Sirius XM radio show host. Dr. Berman will lead a one-hour talk show based in Chicago. This show is from Harpo Productions.

Best Life Experiences

• Excellent Adventure follows a celebrity and their best friend as they embark on the adventure they have always dreamed of taking together. Whether the adventure is large or small, viewers will get to see the power of friends sharing unforgettable moments together. The show is produced by Ashton Kutcher's Katalyst Films.
• Inside: Lisa Ling Investigattes: Lisa in exploring worlds and aspects of a story they would never in their wildest dreams imagine.

Best Life Inspiration:

• Master Class (working title) is a unique series produced by Harpo Productions featuring the most extraordinary people of our time, hand-picked by Oprah Winfrey. Here they will share with us who they really are - their stories, their passions, and their best life lessons. Viewers will get an indepth look at those who have impressed Oprah with their vision, fortitude, and creativity.
• Surfer's Healing is a docusoap produced by Snackaholic about former competitive surfer Izzy Paskowitz, his wife Danielle, their three children -- one of whom is autistic - and their surf school business. We will watch them, their highs and lows, as they manage a business and a foundation for autistic children.
• OWN is also in discussions with other regulars from The Oprah Winfrey Show.

About OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network
A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network is a multi-platform media company designed to entertain, inform, and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN will debut in more than 70 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. The venture also will include the award-winning digital platform, Oprah.com.

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