Oprah Winfrey Lays Off 30 People at OWN
Oprah Winfrey
Just days after canceling The Rosie Show, Oprah Winfrey laid off 30 people at OWN network in what is reportedly a major restructuring at the channel, according to Deadline.com.
The site reports that among the high-profile layoffs, which took place both in New York and Los Angeles offices, is Senior Vice President of Production Julie Stern. Additionally, OWN COO John MacDonald declined to renew his contract. Discovery CFO Neal Kirsch will replace MacDonald.
OWN axes The Rosie Show
"It is difficult to make tough business decisions that affect people's lives," Winfrey said in a statement. "But the economics of a start-up cable network just don't work with the cost structure that was in place. As CEO, I have a responsibility to chart the course for long-term success for the network. To wholly achieve that long-term success, this was a necessary next step."
OWN canceled The Rosie Show last Friday. The talk show debuted in October to an average of 497,000 viewers, a number that fell to an average of 204,000 viewers last month. The Rosie Show will tape its final episode on Tuesday, which will air on Friday, March 30 at 7/6c.