While some TV writers in this country who don't care to do actual homework, research, or care for facts, will be quick to tell you that the programming of Oprah Winfrey's new Oprah Winfrey Network or OWN channel simply isn't available and can't be seen in South Africa - that is simply just not true.
Several countries around the world who are not getting OWN as a pay TV channel are already watching a lot of OWN programming which are sold and separately distributed.
And it is not just possible for South Africa - it is already happening with Your OWN Show starting tonight at 19:13 on Mzansi Magic (DStv 107). (In it 10 contestants compete to try and get their own talk show on the OWN channel with presenters Nancy O'Dell from Entertainment Tonight and Carson Kressley.)
Here's the real truth and the real facts which the journalists in this country who cover television are not telling you because they don't make the effort to ask questions, ask questions to the right people, read, and do their homework. Instead of saying the OWN programming is for OWN alone and since its an American channel South African viewers can't see it, the truth is we can, if local broadcasters and channels care to carry it.
Number one: OWN programming can be bought. South African viewers can see Oprah Winfrey's new talk show Oprah's Next Chapter as well as any of the other programming on that channel like the amazing Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes. M-Net for instance acquired Your OWN Show for Mzansi Magic.
I constantly ask, and my latest and last media enquiry to SABC3 for instance was just last week to hear if SABC3 is considering getting Oprah's Next Chapter, Rosie, or Oprah's Lifeclass. SABC3 channel executives told me the broadcaster isn't looking into it at the moment. So the only thing preventing it is just programming and budget decisions from broadcasters.
TopTV executives are in Cannes, Frances right this moment at the MIPTV 2012 and might pick up some Oprah. Why? TopTV is planning and major revamp and overhaul of the Top One (TopTV 150) channel. Top One will remain a general entertainment channel, but TopTV has realized that Top One which is supposed to be it's version of ''M-Net'' - it's version of its premium general entertainment channel - is underperforming and needs a serious quality and premium content injection. I'm told that will be happening soon.
Secondly: Passion Distribution is the international distributor for OWN content - several other countries are already seeing OWN programming on various TV channels, and Passion Distribution is at MIPTV 2012 in Cannes this week showing OWN shows like Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes, Extreme Clutter with Peter Walsh, I Am Jazz, Extraordinary Moms, St. Louis Soul Food and Our America with Lisa Ling.
So forget the made up fluff from lazy people. This is the real answer.
