Winfrey calls her new cable venture a tough climb

AP/WorldMag ^ | Apr 5, 8:53 PM EDT | FRAZIER MOORE

[quantim]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Oprah Winfrey says creating her new cable network has turned out to be a steep climb.

"I'm climbing Kilimanjaro," she told advertisers Thursday at a presentation for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. She quickly explained that her Kilimanjaro is at the offices of OWN.

"You know that song, `The Time of My Life'? I've had the climb of my life," she cracked.

The network has struggled to build an audience since its launch in January 2011. It recently announced severe staff layoffs and a management shakeup with Discovery Communications, the company that's bankrolled it with $300 million-plus.

But Winfrey struck a hopeful note in her brief remarks, even as she allowed she's still nowhere near the channel's summit of success.

"With our restructuring and right-sizing and getting into the sauce of what needs to happen every day, I feel like I can at least now see the summit," she said.

[quantim]

She went pigment rather than brains in 2008 and is paying the price.

[doc1019]

Good point.

[Carthego delenda est]

“I’m climbing Kilimanjaro,”

Lots of snow up there....

[freeangel]

I don’t think I’d feel badly if she doesn’t make it.

[doc1019]

Mayhap this venture will cost her her billions. Would serve her right.

[Robwin]

Mayhap this venture will cost her her billions. Would serve her right.

Absolutely! Isn't she part of the 1%?

[scott7278]

She probably would have worked harder if she had some skin in the game...

[dangus]

“Winfrey?” Wow. She’s really hit the skids... she’s no longer identified by first name.

[Spktyr]

OWN is getting owned by every other channel out there. Including the 24-hours-live-fish-in-an-acquarium channel.

[micmac]

Those donations to Obama cost you more than you realized, sista. UmmmmHmmm.

[micmac]

You forgot, Oprah, that white, stay-at-home, republican women brought you to the dance in a very fancy dress. Since you ditched us for the Kenyan, you find yourself alone with baby you OWN.

[mriguy67]

just like pbs- i think the gov should subsidize these small network (sarc)

[mriguy67]

just like pbs- i think the gov should subsidize these small network (sarc)

[fortheDeclaration]

How this woman got the following she did is beyond me.

[fish hawk]

Not to mention her making a fat ugly slob Lesbo a keynote show, when polls show that almost 90% of women detest Rosie. Not a smart move, did Oprah actually think she was going to gain audience by doing that?

[D1X1E]

Not to mention her making a fat ugly slob Lesbo a keynote show, when polls show that almost 90% of women detest Rosie. Not a smart move, did Oprah actually think she was going to gain audience by doing that?

Liberals always think they know best what others want or need, despite any evidence to the contrary.

[saintgermaine]

Catering to the what can I get for nothing crowd, that’s how she done it.

[Nickname]

Right-sizing? I haven’t heard that one before. Nice euphemism for: You’re fired!

Personally, I think she should just grab someone off the street and let them run the operation. It was good enough for the US when she endorsed Obama so it should work as well for her.

[Student0165]

I am loving every minute watching this woman get her comeuppance. It’s about damn time.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Saw her on t.v. Recently. She has grown.