oprah winfrey network solutions by jason mathas
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OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network) is struggling in spite of reputation, privilege and every conceivable advantage. I've got legitimate, feasible and viable programming solutions to turn OWN around. Consider this: -JK Rowling (a single Mother with no track record for novels) became one of the most wealthy and successful authors in the world. -Quentin Tarantino went from video clerk to become one of the most powerful and innovative creative forces in Hollywood. -Kurt Warner went from supermarket stockboy to NFL League and Super Bowl MVP. Given their pedrigree, or lack thereof, the success of Rowling, Tarantino and Warner was not likely or expected. But it occurred, nonetheless. Maybe I'm not in the same company as Rowling, Tarantino and Warner (and the like), but "the possible becoming the actual" encompasses a lot of territory. But what if I am? It's to the benefit of everyone concerned to exploit my expertise to your advantage, rather than ignore or underestimate it to your detriment. Dismissal typically occurs through prejudice, ignorance, preoccupation or distrust. It's a mistake to embrace or neglect indiscriminately. Evaluations and assessments must be made objectively. I have no reputation, recommendation or resumé. But I do have talent, ability and insight. I don't have all the answers...just the right ones. Jason MathasTRANSCRIPT
OWN Programming Solutions SUBSTANCE BEFORE STYLE
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
COKE-Classic Jay Leno-The Tonight Show Michael Jordan-Basketball Player Oprah Winfrey-Show
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Classic Coke-The Flagship of Soft Drinks
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Jay Leno-The King Of Late Night
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
MICHAEL JORDAN-BASKETBALL LEGEND
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
OPRAH WINFREY-THE SHOW, THE PERSONALITY, THE INDIVIDUAL
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Previous brand success guarantees nothing for future endeavors.
NEW COKE JAY LENO SHOW-in PRIMETIME MICHAEL JORDAN-BASEBALL
EXPERIMENT OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK-
Programming Lineup From Launch to Present
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Attempting to build on brand strength and recognition with line extension is a great theory, but not guaranteed successful in practical application.
New Coke was a disastrous experiment, despite Coke’s long standing history of success.
Brand name and momentum do not make all future related ventures automatic winners.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Jay Leno Show is cancelled. Same guy, same format, same network
(only 90 minutes earlier)…and the result was an embarrassing failure.
The experiment didn’t work at all. It’s not about logic, projections or
expectations. There are decisions, results and
consequences. Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Possibly the most transcendent sports figure of the 20th century (and beyond) reveals his fatal flaw “on the diamond”, then leaves it on display to potentially tarnish his reputation as the world’s greatest basketball player.
The strongest athletic brand in the world, the same guy who ruled the hardwood then elevated the possible in real and surreal ways, became a punchline in spikes.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
OWN struggles with a revolving door of employees and execs.
OWN can’t find its OWN identity, despite the blueprint Oprah spent 25 years crafting.
Discovery invests $100M…Plus $89M…Plus $50M. $239M is exorbitant to repair something that wasn’t broken.
OWN doesn’t need a “demolition” however, a systematic, progressive and immediate “renovation” is imperative.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Oprah is in good company when it comes to successful, failsafe juggernauts faltering. If it can happen to Coke, Jay Leno, Michael Jordan…then, while not expected, it’s not unfathomable it could happen to Oprah.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
In 1912, the cost to build the Titanic was $7.5M
The cost today would be approximately $400M.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
The movie Titanic cost over $200M. The movie has grossed more than $1.8B
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Waterworld cost $175M. Waterworld made about $264M.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
OWN has been given more than enough money to remake the movie Titanic, nearly enough to build a new version of the actual ship…but OWN has delivered Waterworld.
Why is this happening? Why is it continuing to happen? OWN has practically crashed into a
glacier…but there’s hope.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Recognition must be followed immediately by action. Coke, NBC (Leno) and Jordan all made damaging admissions
of a serious error in judgment and action then rectified their missteps.
Classic Coke became bigger than Coke had ever been. NBC ousted Conan, put Leno back and everything rose to
the top once again. Jordan came back to basketball and reestablished himself as
the pinnacle of athletic excellence. OWN simply must accept and acknowledge its mistakes and
adjust its philosophy and daily practices. Oprah will return to prominence and collectively OWN can exceed her greatest past successes.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Success creates amnesia in the public consciousness concerning past failures.
The key to success is not simply making correct decisions with consistency.
The key to success is recognizing and identifying missteps as quickly as possible and acting accordingly…immediately.
Minimizing damage and managing errors is crucial, but handling the inevitable difficulties, challenges and problems is even more critical.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Expanding programming horizons to encompass Oprah’s entire realm of influence and interest, rather than just her, her show and her current target audience.
The OWN Network has to be much more grand and enormous in its vision and appeal.
Empowering, inspiring shows that capture Oprah’s core and tangential audiences must comprise the bulk of OWN’s programming lineup.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
A concerted effort to squander money and tarnish Oprah’s image couldn’t have produced a result much different than OWN’s predicament.
The current approach isn’t working, nor has any prior approach during OWN’s existence.
If it was working, why is OWN floundering and burning through money like a compulsive gambler trying “to get back to even”.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
The anagram simply represents the urgency for a dramatic alteration in philosophy and approach.
OWN must operate with a sense of urgency. Discovery has already committed nearly a quarter billion ($.25B) to the project and it won’t continue subsidizing a flatlining network if radical improvements aren’t made in the next 6 months.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Shania Twain, Tatum O’Neal and Sarah Ferguson…boo hoo. Shania’s husband left her for another woman. Tatum’s Dad is an immature jerk. Fergie’s trying to pick up the pieces. That club is about as exclusive as the world population. The difference is, they all have money, success, fame, means…they
aren’t on the verge of eviction, repossession, bankruptcy etc… It’s hard to feel sorry for people who’ve experienced the pinnacle
of life and now have to get used to living, normal everyday struggles the rest of us go through, like they’re really overcoming.
Your audience should be inspired, motivated and empowered by OWN’s programming.
Your current approach is alienating rather than influencing while creating intrigue and loyalty across all network programming.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
In an attempt to diversify, you’ve become scattered, without focus or direction.
Celebrity is passing, not lasting. Thus the audience for that type of
programming is fickle and subject to whims.
Substance is what you build a long-term foundation upon while ensuring longevity and cultivating brand loyalty.
OWN isn’t the E! Network. Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Oprah’s show, alone, will not sustain OWN. It can save it from disaster, but it’s unrealistic
to expect it to make the network truly profitable in this highly competitive industry.
However, initially, it will only take one other show to give OWN the traction it needs to build perpetual momentum.
Programming will evolve and develop, but the linchpin show is here.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
A reality show about rebuilding lives, the most valuable commodity in the world.
Triumph over tragedy and overcoming adversity.
Tom Wisenbaker is the catalyst for miraculous progress with victims of stroke and trauma-related injury.
Tom Wisenbaker gives these people back their humanity and in the process provides a tangible example of what is possible, rather than speculation of what could be.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Tom is the world’s foremost expert in progressive strength recovery and has revolutionized rehabilitation for victims of stroke and traumatic injury.
Tom’s struggle with Macular Degeneration and vision loss will be chronicled as a sub-story.
Tom’s wife Renee’s struggles with MS and seizures as well.
Their son, Josh and daughter, Kiki, work with them at their clinic to bring the family element to the show.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Stroke of Genius, like a Russian Doll, has numerous layers and depths to be explored, developed and exploited.
Real-life drama about physical, psychological and emotional struggles…overcoming true adversity of the grandest nature.
There is real drama, excitement, enlightenment, empowerment and entertainment…and it’s not manufactured. It doesn’t have to be.
This is the epitome of Substance…exactly what OWN needs to rehabilitate its image and become what it truly is, but to this point has failed to manifest to its detriment.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]
Get one show that delivers substance and style will reveal itself.
This will create and cultivate an entirely new approach to programming, development and recognition of trend setting shows…rather than inferior “fad chasing” copies.
Stroke Of Genius is the engine that will power the “restartup” and will be the catalyst for OWN’s metamorphosis from cocoon to butterfly, rather than devolution from wine to vinegar, which is the current situation.
Jason Mathas © 2011 • [email protected]