newjerseynewsroom.com

BY LINDA MOSS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Cablevision will launch talk-show-host-lifestyle-guru Oprah Winfrey's much-hyped cable network on Jan. 1, the cable company said Tuesday.

Starting this Saturday, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will be available to iO TV customers in both standard and high-definition on channel 180.

A joint venture between Winfrey's production company, Harpo Inc., and Discovery Communications, OWN describes itself as a network "designed to entertain, inform, and inspire people to live their best lives."

Winfrey is ending her popular daytime talk show in order to take a hands-on approach to getting her new cable network off the ground. In the past few weeks there have been numerous newspaper stories where Winfrey has talked about the risk, and her worries, about her new venture.

OWN will debut Jan. 1 in roughly 80 million homes on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. The venture also will include the digital platform, Oprah.com.

OWN has announced over 20 original series to-date, including:

• "Ask Oprah's All Stars": For the first time on one stage, viewers will have access to Oprah's All Stars — Dr. Phil, Suze Orman, and Dr. Mehmet Oz — to seek advice and to ask their most pressing questions before a live studio audience in this four-part special.
• "Cristina Ferrare's Big Bowl Of Love": In this cooking series, mother, author and former talk show host Ferrare opens up her home, introducing viewers to her family, friends and favorite foods.
• "Enough Already! With Peter Walsh": Organizational and clutter expert Peter Walsh helps one family at a time get rid of the overwhelming clutter that is taking over their home and living the life they dream of.
• "The Gayle King Show": Winfrey's best friend and O Magazine Editor-at-Large Gayle King, as her hit radio show comes to television, live daily on OWN.
• "In The Bedroom With Dr. Laura Berman": A relationship expert, sex therapist, New York Times Bestselling author and Sirius XM radio show host, Dr. Berman makes house calls to help troubled couples uncover what's really going on between the sheets.
• "Kidnapped By The Kids": In this forced parental sabbatical, it's good-bye to cell phones and hello to family time with the kids at the helm.
• "Miracle Detectives": Two investigators — one a believer, Randall Sullivan, the other a skeptic, Dr. Indre Viskontis — will cross the country to uncover answers to mysterious incidents that transcend logic.
• "Oprah Presents Master Class": Hand-picked by Winfrey for their unique impact on the world, eight true modern masters step forward to share the greatest lessons they've learned along the way. First season masters include Jay-Z, Simon Cowell, Sidney Poitier, Dr. Maya Angelou, Diane Sawyer, Lorne Michaels, Dr. Condoleezza Rice and Oprah Winfrey.
• "Oprah's Guide To Own: The New Oprah Winfrey Network": In this one-hour special, Oprah will present viewers with a sneak peek of her favorite shows premiering on OWN.
• "Season 25: Oprah Behind The Scenes": For the first and last time, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" opens its doors to invite viewers behind the scenes for the making of the farewell season.
• "Your Own Show: Oprah's Search For The Next TV Star": Ten contestants with determination, passion and drive were plucked from obscurity from thousands of auditions to compete to get their own TV show on OWN. Hosts Nancy O'Dell and Carson Kressley guide the hopefuls through intense challenges.