Cowen and Co analyst Doug Creutz makes a plausible case, although not completely persuasive one, for his prediction this morning that Tyler Perry’s decision to make OWN his TV platform will work out for everybody. Creutz acknowledges that details haven’t been announced for the two new scripted series that Perry will introduce in mid-2013 on Oprah Winfrey’s joint venture with Discovery. Also, ”we’re not sure Perry’s sitcoms are a great match for Oprah’s aspirational female-targeted brand,” Creutz says. Still, he forecasts that the entertainer’s deal “could potentially bring a meaningful ratings boost to OWN, helping that network climb to profitability in FY13.” Discovery CEO David Zaslav has already promised the Street that OWN will at least break even. Indeed, Creutz says that Perry could increase the prime time audience at OWN by 10% or more even with smaller ratings than he generates at TBS.
That’s saying something, because Perry’s shows have lost a lot of punch on the Time Warner-owned network. They account for about 2% of TBS’ overall prime time audience this quarter, down from about 7% last year, Creutz estimates. As a result, he says the loss to TBS will be “modest” in the first half of 2013, and “non-material” after Q3. Meanwhile, Perry’s contribution to Lionsgate, which syndicates his shows, “has already been on the wane for the past couple of years as the runs of [Tyler Perry's House Of Payne and Meet The Browns] have ended.” Lionsgate probably makes higher profits from recent TV syndication deals than it did with Perry. So his loss “is unlikely to have a major impact on the growth trajectory” for Lionsgate’s TV business.
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With all do respect to Mr. Perry, his shows/movies really are not quality. I’ve always associated Oprah with high quality and class. It just doesn’t seem like a match IMO.
They do seem like a mismatch in some major respects, but I suppose it depends on what kind of sitcoms Perry makes for OWN. Will these shows skew towards an “urban” audience as one might expect from him? There is no denying Perry’s success, but he has never really crossed over with major (mostly white) segments of the mainstream audience. Does he stay in his comfort zone? Or does he work with his team to make something that fits with Oprah’s broader brand?
It’s strange. Thirty years ago, a sitcom with a largely black cast could get a staggeringly huge audience. As long as it was funny, it didn’t matter if it was poor African-Americans in GOOD TIMES or upscale blacks in THE COSBY SHOW. Viewers embraced a more integrated TV landscape, in part, because they didn’t have much choice with only three major networks. Then came BET, UPN, Starz in Black, TV One, YouTube, Netflix, etc. African-Americans have more opportunities than ever, but the media landscape is so fragmented that it’s harder and harder to cross over to a bigger audience.
I think you’re right. I feel like it’s heading toward a change though. “Scandal” (ABC) is a great show that stars an African-American female and NBC is coming out with “Deception” starring Meagan Goode. That is huge progress. My personal opinion (as a black male) is that it’s not that whites won’t watch black shows it’s that network execs don’t watch black shows. Meaning they can’t imagine blacks in the work place because they themselves don’t work with any and they can’t imagine black being friends because they have none. The reality is America is far more diverse than it appears on TV. But I digress
Well I’m sure those two ladies will get along just fine.
Really Oprah? You want to turn your brand into just another yawner of a cable channel? Tyler Perry makes prattle that only some find funny. But if Oprah wants OWN to be another BET it will fail.
I couldn’t agree more, Jay. It would’ve made far more sense for Oprah to partner with Shonda Rhimes, who appeals to her female demo and produces high-quality Emmy winning shows, than to partner with Mr. Perry. The small ratings boost really isn’t worth cheapening her brand.
It’s about ratings and profitability at this point. If Perry brings them with his low-brow sitcoms, then that’s all Discovery really cares about. And as ratings show, it’s not generally about actual quality.
There are certainly other female writers who can do write and produce great programs for OWN, but they probably don’t have the built-in audience or name recognition.
It’s sad, really.
Oprah just interviewed Sondra Rhimes and I betcha if she had the money, she would grab Rhimes over Perry in a minute.
This is, in my opinion, a brilliant move. O can augment their foundational viewers, who surely don’t watch 24 hours of OWN, with a new segment of viewers who appreciate Mr. Perry’s work. By combining blocks of shows for different demos, OWN has a chance to make it.
It’s win-win. OWN gets scripted programming, while TBS can move forward in the market they are going for (with the Conan/Cougar Town crowd), and develop more niche shows.
PS: Tyler Perry is a clown. Very little, if any, talent. Not racist, there are plenty of African-American comedians/actors/writers that I respect (Wyatt Cenac, Donald Glover, Kevin Hart, etc.), but Tyler Perry is not on the list.
Perry produces garbage, and OWN moving toward Perry’s demographic will lead to the eventual name change to BLOWN.
LOL
Own seems more lifke BET than inspiring females. Shoes like iyanla, sweetie pies & a new series about black sextuplets ala John & Kate… then add Tyler Perry who 100% will do black sitcoms… And the network seems to be going after black viewers
To say that Perry has a very limited niche appeal and little to not crossover mainstream success look no further than ‘Alex Cross’. Perry’s isn’t famous or successful for having a large fan base but rather because of his low budget to profit comparison. How does that translate to success/ratings for OWN? The issue here isn’t Perry but more that OWN can’t define and/or sustain a brand. There’s a struggle with such a limited concept that now they’re going to Perry for some slapdash schmaltz that will only incur poor review and low ratings.
Winfrey is blinded by her friendship with Perry and can’t see that his brand and her brand don’t mesh.
I think it’s safe to say that OWN’s brand is still a work in progress. Perry isn’t broad, but my instinct is that his work will play beautifully on OWN and will actually broaden his appeal as it helps OWN’s ratings. Brilliant move by Oprah and Zaslav.
FYI: the syndicated runs of House of Payne and Meet the Browns, have not ended, they continue in syndication, and will for some time.
I agree with you Jay, however, Ms. O took a dip in the mud earlier this year when she interviewed those damn Kardashians, so I guess slumming currently appeals to her and for whatever weird reason she’s interested in seeing how non-aspirational, classless people operate their multi-million dollar empires.
Oprah just shot herself in the foot.
What’s next? Black remake of Mama’s Family!
“Blown”. Brilliant
So much anger and hatred! Why be mad @ success! You can make things happen in your life also but you lack faith and motivation! It’s easy to sit on your but with a remote and judge what’s wrong with everything right lol. Oprah will be fine and so will OWN she’s paramount whether you like it or not. Smile.