Oprah Winfrey Reflects on the Near-Collapse of Her Network

Winfrey recalled the relentless public scrutiny that defined those early years, noting that every headline focused on the struggling state of OWN. The pressure to succeed after ending her long-running daytime talk show was compounded by a private internal conflict. She revealed that she had felt a strong urge to abandon the project before it began, but felt trapped by the contracts she had already signed. She described waking up in the middle of the night unable to breathe, haunted by the realization that she had ignored her own instincts.

The network, which replaced the Discovery Home Channel, eventually stabilized through partnerships with creators like Tyler Perry and a pivot toward original programming. However, the financial cost of the struggle was significant. By 2017, Winfrey began divesting her majority stake, eventually selling large portions to Discovery. Today, her company, Harpo, retains only a 5% interest in the venture. Looking back, she identifies the attempt to launch a network simultaneously with the conclusion of her talk show as her primary regret, emphasizing that she should have allowed herself time to remain still before committing to a new chapter.