Cablevision To Launch OWN

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Oprah Winfrey's new cable network will be available to Cablevision subscribers on Jan. 1 after the MSO reached a carriage deal with the Winfrey/Discovery Communications-owned network Tuesday.

OWN, which is taking over the Discovery Health channel on New Year's Day, will launch to Cablevision's more than 3 million subscribers, according to the MSO. The MSO currently does not carry Discovery Health, but OWN will launch on channel 180.

OWN will also be carried on Bresnan systems on the channel formerly occupied by Discovery Health.

OWN is expected to launch in front of close to 80 million subscribers, said network officials.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.