TJ Walker critiques Oprah's comment that she might have done something else if she'd known how difficult starting OWN would be. He argues this kind of candor can spook advertisers, hosts, and viewers when a network is just getting started.
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From New York, here's T.J. walker. Soundbite Blunder OF the day goes to Oprah Winfrey. Yes, I know she's wildly successful and incredibly rich, but it was a blunder earlier today when she told a reporter, quote, had I known that it was this difficult, I might have done something else. She was referring to starting the own network, the Oprah Winfrey Talent Television Network. The problem with being that candid is it makes a lot of people suspicious she's going to pull the plug. It makes advertisers suspicious. It makes talented potential hosts wonder, how long is this going to be around? It makes viewers wonder, why should I bother lobbying my cable company to put OWN on a decent channel? It just shakes everyone's confidence. I'm not suggesting that she needs to lie and put out spin all the time, but if you're putting out a message that questions your own commitment to essentially a brand new organization that's still in its infancy, it just makes everyone nervous that you're going to pull the plug. And that's not a helpful message. I'm T.J. walker.