TORONTO – Corus is bringing daytime TV maven Oprah Winfrey’s new channel to Canada.
In an announcement on Wednesday, Corus said that it had finalized a licensing agreement to add OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network to its portfolio of Canadian specialty services. It will launch in early 2011, after the channel’s U.S. premiere on January 1, 2011.
While Corus did confirm that OWN would be a rebrand of one its existing services, it declined to name which channel. However, with OWN planning to target adults 18-54 with a core of women 25-54, it seems likely to replace VIVA, (itself a rebrand of Canadian Learning Television), an analog cable channel that targets a similar market segment. (And according to the Corus website, it’s available in five million households across the country).
“OWN is a perfect addition to our Women’s portfolio of specialty channels, and Corus is proud to launch this highly-anticipated brand in Canada,” said Corus TV president, Doug Murphy, in the announcement. “With a wide spectrum of great programming offerings and the addition of Oprah’s Next Chapter later next year, OWN is going to be a must-have channel on the dial for Canadian audiences.”
OWN’s programming will “explore issues that matter, from health and wellness, home and relationships to stories of strength and transformation”, the announcement continued. With over 1200 hours of original and acquired programming, series will include Rosie O’Donnell’s return to daytime television with The Rosie O’Donnell Show; Behind the Scenes: The Oprah Show Final Season; Oprah Presents: Master Class; In the Bedroom with Dr. Laura Berman; The Miracle Detectives; and Oprah’s Next Chapter, a new evening show.
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In other Corus news, the company has teamed up with Supernova Interactive on an integrated social network in which listeners can directly influence which independent artists are potentially featured on radio.
As Corus rolls out the social media platforms across its new music stations, each participating station/city will develop its own music community portal which will provide music fans a place to listen, share and support their local music scene. It will also serve emerging artists by offering opportunities for them to expose their music to a larger audience through Corus Radio websites and its airwaves.
Led by Corus Interactive and Integrated Solutions (CIIS), Corus Radio’s interactive arm, the initiative has already launched on Winnipeg’s Power 97 (power97.supernova.com) and Vancouver’s 99.3 The FOX (cfox.supernova.com) and will expand throughout Canada on Corus Radio stations in the upcoming months.
www.corusent.com
www.oprah.com/own
www.supernovainteractive.com
