Oprah is finally taking OWNership of her fledgling TV channel.

The Oprah Winfrey Network (aka OWN) announced today that its namesake founder is stepping up to CEO and chief creative officer, effective this fall, in addition to her current role as chairman.

Erik Logan and Sheri Salata, current presidents of Harpo Studios, the television arm of Winfrey's Harpo Productions, will assume co- presidency of OWN, effective immediately, in a clear signal that Harpo will now focus all production on OWN, while Winfrey will now focus her energies on the Discovery-backed cable channel.

"I am ready to dedicate my full creative energy and focus as the full time CEO of OWN," said Winfrey. "By aligning the mission, talent and leadership of Erik, Sheri, the OWN team, the Harpo team, along with expertise of (Discovery Communications CEO) David Zaslav, Peter (Liguori, OWN's interim CEO) and all of Discovery behind us, we can unleash the full potential of the network."Continue reading...

Disney withdraws SEALS trademark application in deference to the US Navy's trademark application.

Google will announce mobile commerce details tomorrow in New York.

Maria Sharapova is launching a lifestyle brand called Sugarpova.

Oprah's sign-off today, ending her 25 year-run as the queen of daytime TV: "To God be the glory." Peter Liguori, the interim CEO of Winfrey's OWN Network, also got a sweetened contract from co-OWNer Discovery Communications.

Univision releases a Groupon clone, Ufertas.com, aimed at US Hispanic consumers and brands.

The queen of daytime TV is publically wondering if kicking off OWN while still on the air with the final (and busy) season of The Oprah Winfrey Show was the right strategic move.

"I’ve thought maybe it would have been better to wait until this completely ended and then literally use [Oprah] as a launchpad. If I had it to do differently and had thought of that option, I might have considered that a priority. But I don’t spend a lot of time in the regret mode," she says. 

She’s gaining some comfort from another TV veteran as she prepares to leave the comfort of her daytime perch.Continue reading...