Oprah network on Saturday, 85 million homes Debut - Wall Street Journal

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      Maxwell Murphy     Dow Jones Newswires    

NEW YORK (Dow Jones) - If you get the Discovery Health Channel, chances are you will be able to watch Oprah Winfrey welcome you to their new network, if it starts Saturday.

With the addition this week of Cablevision Systems Corp. (CVC), approximately 85 million homes able to see the queen of the television network the new day. About 80 million homes that currently, health discoveries, and the end is called the Oprah Winfrey own network or renamed.

The hardest part, especially if the new system proves popular, will, if cable and satellite companies expiration of existing contracts with Discovery Communications Inc. (DISCA, disck). Discovery and Winfrey's Harpo Productions Inc. each own half of the new network, and the goal is to fully receive more monthly fees and advertising revenue is assured that Discovery Health.

Discovery seeks to launch a chain and Winfrey rarely seen in the next phase of his illustrious career. Discovery Health scores an average of nearly 252,000 viewers in prime time on any given night, according to Nielsen, while Oprah Winfrey Show is broadcast afternoon with an average of 6.7 million viewers in this, his last season.

Discovery Health TV provider charges an average of 7 cents per subscriber per month, according to SNL Kagan analyst Derek Baine said he had heard OWN offers operators an agreement with the network lead-free for two years with a monthly rate of 20 cents per participant thereafter.

Some cable providers like Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC) and Mediacom Communications Corp. (MDP), the transition is to OWN from Discovery Health, without the development of a new contract is received until the contract present their discovery packets Channels completed. At this stage, these providers negotiate for his discovery of separate channels of negotiations with a new company solely responsible for OWN.

Spokesman for Cox Enterprises Inc. Cox Communications, Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR) and Insight Communications Co. (ICCI) also said their own show starting with the launch.

Others, such as satellite provider Dish TV Network Corp (DISH) already Discovery Health, but have yet to drive a new deal for OWN. Marc Lumpkin, a spokesman for the court said he should run clean when it begins transmitting on New Year's Day, but the court is "more complete contract terms at this time."

Satellite provider DirecTV Group Inc. (DTV) and cable giant Comcast Corp. (CMCSK, CMCSA) has not recalled, some smaller regional service providers.

Cablevision, which does not include the discovery of the health network announced Tuesday that he would not reveal who own terms. own agreement with Cablevision has the power to improve access to the largest market in New York.

Nicole Nichols, spokesman for the nematode, said he expects all of the approximately 80 million TV households that currently have access to Discovery Health, the own clock. If the addition of Cablevision subscribers, the number jumps to 85 million homes coupled.

In comparison, there are approximately 115.9 million television households, according to Nielsen Co., the largest cable operators, such as the signing of Discovery Channel, reaching more than 100 million € and niche providers, such as germination of the power to reach children under 50 million homes.

A spokeswoman for Discovery does not respond to a request for comment.

Own plans of at least 22 original series next year, with special programs to speak in prime time as "Ask Oprah's All Stars," which first aired on Sunday for the series of celebrities, including mother-daughter country duo Naomi and Wynonna Judd.

Baine SNL sees net proceeds of approximately $ 136 000 000 nematode for the next year, advertising revenues are up, but negative cash flow of $ 51.1 million to spend as much on network programming. This year, said the analyst, probably brought on Discovery Health $ 80,100,000 in net earnings, cash flow of approximately $ 30,300,000.

- By Maxwell Murphy, Dow Jones Newswires, 212-416-2171; maxwell.murphy @ dowjones.com

- Sam Schechner contributed to this report.