Oprah's Ratings Slip While Magazine Circulation Falls

New York Times:

Oprah Winfrey is still the queen of all media, but her crown is beginning to look a bit tarnished.

The average audience for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" has fallen nearly 7 percent this year, according to Nielsen Media Research -- its third straight year of decline. "Oprah's Big Give," an ABC philanthropic reality show, beat every program on television except "American Idol" in its premiere week this winter, but steadily lost nearly one-third of its audience during the rest of its eight-week run, according to Nielsen.

The circulation of O, The Oprah Magazine, has fallen by more than 10 percent in the last three years, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and the magazine is now seeking a new editor in chief after the announced retirement of its longtime steward, Amy Gross.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[riley85]

The image of Oprah prancing around on stage declaring Obama as "The One"...

I don't know who is more arrogant Oprah or Obama.

[TimmySlagle]

Hmmm, I wonder if this has anything to do with her presidential endorsement?

It would appear that Oprah's audience is not full of Obama supporters. One might speculate that they are rooting for the Woman, but there is also the possibility that many of her fans might just be (gasp) Conservatives.

[shengirl]

It's always a bad sign when you start to believe your own mythology.

[Ides]

About a week ago I read an article on HuffPo saying she was going to retire anyway. So now the story of her star fading has replaced the story of her walking away from it all? Now it just looks like she's responding to the newspapers.

[Msohio]

I am disappointed that Oprah has not addressed the internet smears against her. I received many emails distorting Oprah's position on Christianity and her worship of herself. These emails are just as damaging as the ones against Obama. She has to realize that even her fans that she considered loyal will choose to believe a distorted opinion over what they know her to be.

[edsel]

I don't know about anybody else, But I'm a little oprahed out

[dgscol]

Honey, we're getting tired of milk chocolate.

[okeydokey]

Oprah's popularity began to wane when she bought that house in Santa Barbara with a personal check for 50 million cash. Follow that up with that 4 million dollar 50th Birthday Bash. Gone was her secret weapon. She no longer had the common touch. It was now all Midas touch. I've always
thought there was a striking different in the well dressed, white suburban women who comprise her studio office and the typical viewer at home. Pretty hard to watch Oprah tell a family of four to give up TV and video games and "Stop being so wasteful" When she threw that "Legends Ball" where everyone had their own waiter The girls school in Africa maybe her dream but one not shared by her American audience. I've always admired Dolly parton who paid tuition to any student who wanted to go to attend college from her own alma mater in Pigeon Hollow, TN. Oprah is living in an America very different than most of us. Someone who brags that she was never invested in politics before Obama is the last person I'd take voting advice from.

[CrabbyGolightly]

There are black audience members, but just like at Obama rallies they seat them outside the cameras' eyes. Unless they are pretty.

[suuzie]

I am still boycotting ABC over the debacle of a debate they hosted and I am sure Oprah's show was impacted as a result.

Today I renewed my O at Home subscription and will continue to support her, because she is the champion of the poor and women around the world.

I am sure we only hear about a small percentage of the people she helps.

[Waitaminute]

You know what? I think you are the type of person who feel sorry for themselves. I have been in Oprah's audience twice on camera both times. I have been to Obama campaign rallies. I got there early all four times and i sat the hell where i wanted to. One thing i know for a fact, i am not pretty by a long short and i am also black.

[toocoldout]

Oprah's sent HUNDREDS of African American men through college so she gives money in the U.S. not just in Africa. But she's more vocal about her African charity because she wants to inspire others to give money their too. It seems to be working as Madonna has now decided to follow Oprah's example of building a girl school in Africa. I think it's great to help a continent as poor as Africa, but a lot of people are so U.S.-centric that they only appreciate charity for Americans. But according to Business Week Oprah has given HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of her OWN hard earned money, more than any other black ever. Other celebrities raise money, Oprah's one of the few who backs it up by GIVING hundreds of millions of her own. She's such a loving spirit.

[Waitaminute]

Ms. Oprah Winfrey has been on air, how long? Sorry, but her ratings has nothing to do with your wishful thinking. Finally after all these years her ratings are slipping. If you had noticed other products such as magazine newspaper etc. sales in all Markets ARE DOWN!!!

One question, why does it bother you so, that Ms. Oprah Winfrey help African children? Whats that about huh? Your post remind me of deep jealousy.

[snobama]

Q) oprah , obama and osama... why do all their names start with a big 0 ???

A) cos they are each un-christian losers... !!

[sassafra]

there, there, poor thing. i imagine that "o" question *would* be a bit of a stretch for a 2 digit iq. hang in there though your november depression will be here real soon.

[cindyw]

The punch line doesn't make sense. What's the connection between "big O" and "un-christian losers"?

[txgal44]

How dumb are you?

[realtalk]

This is simply because there is now competition in her time slot: Tyra, and Ellen's show BOTH come on at the same time Oprah does. Older women who want fluff turn on Ellen.
Teens, and young women in their thirties turn on Tyra, who has both fluff, and substance, on her show, and the Oprah gets an audience who wants to hera about nutrition, and health care, and relationship issues, and interior decorating shows, fashion make-over shows, as well as the occasional fashion show, and celebrity interview.

[folksonomy]

what goes up, must come down, but I'm sure Ms. O will reinvent herself and the media conglomerate she is. her diet detox is the beginning of said reinvention.

[avicenna]

It's time for her to break the "Gail and Me" story on reality TV - it seems to be the type of thing American audiences go for nowadays.

[devadasi]

So what?

You can't be Queen for A Day forever.

Oprah is moving on....she's evoling. She played a major role introducing Obama to the national stage. And why not, here's a woman that can spot Talent a million way. She went out on a limb, and is laughing all the way to the bank. I love you Oprah!

[longnow]

Did anyone come to the conclusion that Eckhart Tolle and Oprah were
not getting along which was why Tolle arranged with her for him to
call her a hole...through which God breathes or some such thing.
The meaning was a disguised put down and IMO was made by mutual
agreement. I'm guessing that Oprah's crew set up Tolle through
one of the questions by Nick when he asked about reading a book
or going to church. What a God awful stupid question. Tolle
caught it and deflected it but "Nick" came back with a blurred
follow up. You could see the look on Nick's face that he was trying
to get Tolle and Oprah let it happen and Tolle knew it.
If all that is true, and i believe some version is true, what the
hell kind of psycho set that question up? Why did thy do it?

[GeoNorth]

People are starting to wake up. According to Oprah, it's all about Oprah. You are her minions.