After disappointing ratings in its first four months of existence, Oprah Winfrey dismissed OWN network CEO Christina Norman and replaced her with Peter Liguori, chief operating officer for Discovery Communications. Liguori will lead OWN until the end of the year.
According to the New York Times, the decision to remove Norman from the position came after several meetings with members of the OWN board of directors and Winfrey, who touted Norman as a passionate, hard worker.
“I want to thank Christina for her important accomplishments, incredible passion and many sacrifices in helping to launch the network,” said Winfrey in a press statement. “With the final taping of “The Oprah Winfrey Show“ only a few weeks away, I will soon be able to devote my full energies to OWN. This is a natural point of transition, and I am confident that Peter, as an integral part of the launch of OWN, will be a terrific partner for me going forward. He is one of the smartest, most creative executives in media, and I look forward to his leadership as we build our development slate and work toward the launch of “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” Over the remainder of the year, Peter and I will work together to recruit a permanent CEO for OWN’s next phase of growth.”
In an interview with the New York Times, Liguori said he plans to increase the entertainment value of programs on OWN while keeping in line with Winfrey’s wholesome brand.