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Courtesy of: The New York Times
Courtesy of: The New York Times
QUOTE
NBC Universal to Acquire Oxygen Channel
By BILL CARTER
Published: October 9, 2007
NBC Universal today announced the acquisition of the Oxygen Channel, a cable television network that focuses on women viewers and is led by the longtime cable executive Geraldine Laybourne.
NBC said it would pay $925 million for the channel, which may be seen as a bargain. In recent months analysts estimated the channel’s value at $1 billion to $1.5 billion.
Oxygen began in February 2000 with enormous publicity and a group of high-profile backers, chief among them Oprah Winfrey, aiming to be a serious contender for ratings with the Lifetime network, the leading cable channel specializing in reaching women.
But Oxygen started at a time when it was becoming increasingly difficult for cable channels to achieve the levels of distribution necessary to find a truly national audience for programs. Oxygen has never created a show that was considered a hit on cable, though NBC executives pointed to recent growth for the channel’s programming.
Beyond Ms. Winfrey, the channel was also supported by executives from the now-defunct Carsey-Werner production company, Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner and Caryn Mandabach. But much of its financial support came from the former Microsoft executive, Paul Allen.
NBC Universal, which also owns several top-rated cable channels, including USA network and Bravo, has been looking for ways to expand into the market for women viewers, at least partly to support for its Internet site, iVillage.
By BILL CARTER
Published: October 9, 2007
NBC Universal today announced the acquisition of the Oxygen Channel, a cable television network that focuses on women viewers and is led by the longtime cable executive Geraldine Laybourne.
NBC said it would pay $925 million for the channel, which may be seen as a bargain. In recent months analysts estimated the channel’s value at $1 billion to $1.5 billion.
Oxygen began in February 2000 with enormous publicity and a group of high-profile backers, chief among them Oprah Winfrey, aiming to be a serious contender for ratings with the Lifetime network, the leading cable channel specializing in reaching women.
But Oxygen started at a time when it was becoming increasingly difficult for cable channels to achieve the levels of distribution necessary to find a truly national audience for programs. Oxygen has never created a show that was considered a hit on cable, though NBC executives pointed to recent growth for the channel’s programming.
Beyond Ms. Winfrey, the channel was also supported by executives from the now-defunct Carsey-Werner production company, Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner and Caryn Mandabach. But much of its financial support came from the former Microsoft executive, Paul Allen.
NBC Universal, which also owns several top-rated cable channels, including USA network and Bravo, has been looking for ways to expand into the market for women viewers, at least partly to support for its Internet site, iVillage.