Oprah is my everyday fix – bringing all sorts of emotion into my day - happiness, sadness, fear, hope, encouragement, vulnerability, laughter and more. And I know I am not alone; there are an astounding 42 MILLION Oprah viewers each week in 145 countries. Today at 4PM EST (on her show), Oprah will announce the ending of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” as we know it. And the big question everyone has is – what will be next?
What’s next is her own cable network – OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network) a joint venture with Discovery Communications. Her last days as the host of the The Oprah Winfrey Show will be September 9, 2011. OWN is rumored to be a network, much like any other that will feature a selection of shows and entertainment. The quality and types of shows featured on OWN will most likely determine her continued success and popularity. The frustrating part is that the cable network will only be accessible to people who subscribe via their cable company or have digital cable. Unfortunately, despite subscription, there are some markets around the world that will not even be able to broadcast the show. And that means, many of her 42 million viewers will be left in the dust, only to watch reruns of the The Oprah Winfrey Show.
To me, Oprah is a symbol of hope for many Americans, especially women. Her life story reminds us that we can do and become anything we want. Oprah was born in Mississippi to a single teenage mother and then moved to Milwaukee. She has overcome considerable hardship; being raped at the age of nine and giving birth to a son at 14, who later died in infancy.
After moving to Tennessee to live with the man she calls her father, she got a job in radio and co-anchored the local evening news while in high school. After evolving into one of the most popular radio hosts in Chicago, Oprah, started her own production company and became nationally syndicated, and here lies Oprah as we know her—the talk show diva! All of us are capable of attaining the same personal freedom and despite whatever hardships we are facing, it is possible to accomplish our goals and our dreams. You really just can never, ever give up.
Wishing Oprah continued success in all that she does – and most importantly the spirit to continue empowering women all over the world. And a big pat on the back to all of you reading who are spirited, strong and fighting for what you want out of life!
- Elaine La Personerie - www.winkpr.com
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daytime TV won't be the same without 'O'
Posted by: Dean Sanderson | November 23, 2009 at 10:02 AM