Question for Oprah: Broadcast or Cable?

If she wrote a book about OWN, Oprah Winfrey said on CBS This Morning yesterday, she could call it 101 Mistakes. Oprah's No. 1 error? Launching her cable TV network "when we really weren't ready to launch," she confessed to best friend Gayle King and her co-host, Charlie Rose. About her 15-month-old joint venture with Discovery Communications (DISCA), Oprah added: "Had I known it was this difficult, I might have done something else." With the former daytime TV queen now averaging fewer than 300,000 viewers in primetime, might she pull the plug on her cable network and go back to broadcast?

GATINEAU, Que. — The federal broadcast regulators will take a look at the educational aspect of the Oprah Winfrey Network Canada to determine if it is meeting its licence requirements of broadcasting educational content. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications says it will hold a hearing next Tuesday looking into whether the network’s shows are educational enough to meet its mandate. Media company Corus Entertainment Inc. has the licence for the Oprah Winfrey Network Canada channel.

Peter Liguori takes over temporarily after the fledgling cable channel OWN fails to attract viewers.Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications Inc.

Talk show diva and cultural kingmaker Oprah Winfrey expands her media empire Saturday with the high-stakes launch of her OWN cable network.While Winfrey's comfy couches have launched scores of careers -- from Dr. Phil to the inventors of her 'favorite things' -- it's unclear if her magic touch can carry an entire network."Oprah has a very powerful brand name, but it's really difficult to get people to change their viewing habits and find a new channel," said Derek Baine, an analyst for industry consultant SNL Kagan.

Talk show diva and cultural kingmaker Oprah Winfrey expands her media empire Saturday with the high-stakes launch of her OWN cable network.While Winfrey's comfy couches have launched scores of careers -- from Dr. Phil to the inventors of her 'favorite things' -- it's unclear if her magic touch can carry an entire network."Oprah has a very powerful brand name, but it's really difficult to get people to change their viewing habits and find a new channel," said Derek Baine, an analyst for industry consultant SNL Kagan.