Oprah profit-free network said to hemorrhage $330 million
May 08, 2012|By John Timpane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Oprah Winfrey embraces Bobbi Kristina, daughter of the late singer
How hurtin is Oprah Winfreys network, OWN? Massively. Last week, an article in Bloomberg Businessweek guessed that the cable joint, born 2008, may have lost upward of $330 million. Not Oprahs money; she has no personal financial stake in the venture. Still, her name is on it, OWN has seen flagging viewership, and there have been a few high-profile duds (this means you, Rosie ODonnell!). Os show, Oprahs Next Chapter, has been getting pretty good numbers, with savvily chosen guests, such as Whitney Houstons family. Oprah remains indomitable: She says that while you could call the network 101 Mistakes so far, she is in it for the long haul. A sentiment, by the way, you very seldom hear in TV-world.
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Hurray for PhillyWood!
Dead Man Down, starring Lafayette Hills own Terrence Howard, is now filming in town. Its playing stand-in for New York. Wednesday, they filmed a gun battle at 17th and Walnut. Next day, TH was there, hanging out with Philly folk. TH also shot a! scene w ith Armand Assante at the Latham Hotel. Colin Farrell has been scampering around rooftops with a gun. On CBS3, coproducer Joseph Zolfo said Philly shooting was skedded for 35 days, with an old Navy Yard hangar as a sound stage. He correctly said that Philly is film-friendly and cheaper than N.Y.C.
Summer lunch concerts scheduled
The city has announced its Wednesday lunchtime summer concert series. Theyll hold forth from noon to 1:30 Wednesdays from June 6 to the end of August. Locations vary. If it rains, theyll move to either Reading Terminal (12th and Filbert) or the Gallery (Ninth and Market). Its a nicely eclectic lineup, starting June 6 with the goodtime Cajun allons-danser of Alligator Zydeco at 1601 Market (rain location: Reading Terminal); on June 13 its rockabilly with Gas Money at Centre Square, 1500 Market (Gallery rain); on June 20 its Brazilian niceness with Minas at Caf Cret, that cute coffeeplace/restaurant at 16th and Parkway (Reading if rain). Nice. For the whole schedule, check out Philly.com at http://bit.ly/J8X5zC.
Dictator attacks Today show