Christina Norman to head OWN
Former MTV exec named CEO of network
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Norman will oversee all business and creative endeavors for the fledgling channel, a joint venture of Discovery Communications and Winfrey's Harpo Prods.
Based in its Los Angeles headquarters, she will begin Feb. 17, working closely with OWN president Robin Schwartz in building the health- and lifestyle-oriented cable net. It's slated to launch with about 70 million subscribers either late this year or in early 2010, taking the place of what is now the Discovery Health Channel.
Norman said prepping a presentation with which to showcase the net to advertisers at the upcoming upfront will be among her first priorities.
"We have to figure out what shows to put into production and what to share with advertisers at that point," she said.
As for when the public will get its first glimpse at the initial slate of OWN programming, Norman said it's unlikely that anything will be ready in time for the summer Television Critics Assn. confab.
Norman spent 17 years at MTV Networks, where she was appointed president in 2005 and stepped down, purportedly to pursue other interests, in February 2008.
The cabler launched successful reality franchises including "The Hills" and "A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila" under her watch. Norman also oversaw the development of the hit vidgame franchise "Rock Band" during her prexy term.
