OPRAH’S OWN NETWORK NABS SOLID REVIEWS

The reviews have been mostly positive for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN cable network, which launched on Saturday, New Year’s Day. The New York Times‘s Alessandra Stanley remarked that the network is “a place where cynicism takes a holiday and mockery hasn’t yet been invented. … a ‘meaningful, mindful’ cable network that seeks its own truth and tries to be is own best self.” At Salon.com, Matt Zoller Seitz commented, “We won’t just watch OWN; we will gaze upon it with awe and affection, and marvel at the sweet magnificence of its founder.” Joanna Weiss in the Boston Globe wrote that after observing the channel’s initial fare, she concluded that it will likely focus on “tales of people becoming the best possible versions of themselves, with the goal of encouraging viewers to become the best possible versions of themselves.” For the most part, Oprah fans applauded her new network on her website, www.Oprah.com. But today’s (Monday) New York Post observed that scores of viewers registered their disappointment that the network was not available on basic cable in their areas and that they would have to pay extra to watch it. The newspaper quoted one typical post from a disaffected fan: “She will be losing some of her most loyal fans because they either do not have cable or they have basic cable. I have basic cable and do not plan on changing my cable service. … Too bad that she didn’t look into a channel that would serve everyone.” Another commented: “I am very disappointed that I will not be able to watch Oprah (whom I love). … I cannot afford to pay the extra monthly fee.”