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Hot Topics Jennifer Lawrence Kim Kardashian Rihanna Robert Pattinson Beyonce Justin Bieber Kristen Stewart

Oprah Begs Twitter Followers During Grammys to Watch OWN Network

Truth rating: 10

5:29 pm, February 13th, 2012

(GettyImages.com)

Oprah Winfrey wishes people had spent less time watching the Grammys on Sunday, and more time watching her.

In a direct appeal to her 9 million Twitter followers, the former talk show queen begged, “Every 1 who can please turn to OWN especially if you have a Nielsen box.”

The tweet was later removed, although another tweet that said “Commercial Grammy people.. u can turn to OWN” is still up.

While many quickly labeled the TV personality as “desperate” and “unethical,” Oprah was equally fast at smacking down the criticism.

She tweeted to one accusatory follower, “‘desperate’ not ever a part of my vocab,” and wrote to another that “unethical [is] a little harsh.”

In actuality, Oprah’s plea was against the rules.

Nielsen prohibits TV personalities from directly appealing to Nielsen box holders to change their viewing habits.

Such incidents, the company says, can lead to inflated — and biased — numbers.

A humbled Oprah issued a mea culpa on Monday, saying, “I removed the tweet at the request of Nielsen. I intended no harm and apologize for the reference.”

Interestingly enough, Oprah herself was watching the Grammys, too, on Sunday.

The media mogul claimed she was in a Georgia hotel, which didn’t carry OWN.

What do you think of Oprah’s Twitter plea?

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  • Anonymous

    I watch OWN a lot, but I have no Nielsen Box. Sorry Oprah :/

  • Lindsey

    Sounds desperate to me.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=658361960 Elle O’Elle

    sounds more like a plug than a plea. Twisting her words and portraying them in a controversial way to get plugs much, writers?

  • Danny

    It’s more of a suggestion. Of course she wants people with the box to tune in. A lot of actors for my shows tweet stuff like that. I wish I had one since most of the stuff I watch is low in the ratings and without a doubt going to get cancelled eventually. :(

  • Anonymous

    Hey O, that will teach you to be a mouthpiece for Obama. We don’t tune into you to tell us who to vote for. You should’ve known you would offend at least half your audience.

  • Guest

    I bet if she would have been nice and supported All My Children and One Life to Live her station would have better ratings :)

  • Regina1180

    Its not the fact that she begged people to watch her failing network, it’s that she was pleading directly to those with Nielsen boxes. From what I understand, that’s frowned upon in the industry.

  • Guest

    For some reason Oprah responding to the twitter haters makes me like her.

  • Guest

    But she needs better shows to get me to watch her network. She should have bought the soap operas the we’re canned

  • Blonderosie

    My opinion is Oprah has sold us down the river so to speak . She praised and endorsed this marxist, America hating pres.mwe have in office . She has NO IDEA how he has hurt the middle class and she never will. She still endorses him today. I feel people are sick and tired of her elitest ways. She needs to remember who got her where she is.

  • http://www.facebook.com/laquitathodge Laquita T. Hodge

    She is desperate because she doesn’t have as many viewers as she thought she would have. Oprah thought that her audience would follow her to OWN, but not everyone has that channel or they just don’t care for the programming. I’m one of those who doesn’t care for the shows she has. Sounded like begging for those with a Nielson box to boost her ratings so her channel won’t fail.

  • Darlaa19

    Get me the nelson box then I can’t afford it you Oprah !!!

  • Darlaa19

    And she should’ ve never left abc !!!

  • Mrbr101

    I could could care less what that old bag of hot hair has to say.I didn’t whatch her t.v. show.I sure wouldn’t whatch own.

  • alexstorm

    I was shocked that she tweeted that, shocked and surprised, her viewers didn’t follow her OR the programming is to much about self awareness that its not entertaining

  • MyKinKStar

    For someone who used to blast other ‘talk shows’ that came from her era, a la Springer, her damned network sure LOVES to show others at their mercy. OWN SUX!

  • nex

    Who didn’t blast Springer? I don’t know why that show is still on.

  • http://twitter.com/readysteadystop readysteadystop

    http://whattheheckhasobamadonesofar.com

    Learn the truth before you spout your ignorant BS.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jodi.devore Jodi DeVore

    I love the programming on OWN. I am not a huge Oprah fan, like some people are. But I watch The Rosie Show a lot. Every episode. And I watch the documentaries. Basic cable gets horrible ratings compared to network. Especially the first year. It just needs time. And finding a niche.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=658361960 Elle O’Elle

    :D fucken love this! :D lol

  • Anonymous

    I like and respect Oprah, but was she desperate for even asking. Oprah, I’m sorry but people don’t have to watch ur channel all the freaking time.

  • French Flies

    She truly does live in her own Oprah universe.

  • Just4u2

    as far as Im concerned she did what many other celebs do when they promote there own movies & wares all in the name of buisness. Its unfortunate she actually said Neilsen.. had she not done that we would not betalking about this. One of the worst out there is the Kardashins on twitter & self promotion. Think about it people.

  • nex

    It takes time to build a network no matter who owns it, especially if it’s a cable channel. She might get there some day.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brenda-Mills/100000377591626 Brenda Mills

    Well Oprah, you are just one of the many victims of this miserable economy. I would estimate that you lost a large percent of your audience when you went to pay tv. When it is a choice of buying milk and bread for our family or OWN, guess who wins. If you want viewers, you have to make the change. We still like you, just can’t afford you.

  • Anonymous

    oh how the mighty have fallen.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Elizabeth-Pfeffer/517066261 Elizabeth Pfeffer

    She should had brought the soaps All My Children and One Life To Live and have them on her network.Oprah can go cry me a river

  • Angel Eyes

    We have a Nielsen box but, I never watch OWN. And if I heard anyone solicit for us to view any particular program, we would not. It is supposed to be unbiased viewing or what is the use of keeping tabs. That was silly of her to bid for Nielsen box watchers attention.

  • smartchick

    I was gonna say “desperate” seems to cover it!

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/565TCXMB2XP263LC6JONTU4N6A Kim

    My friend just met a chocolate man on Blackwhitemeet.COMit’s where for men and women looking for interracial’ship for a fabulous lifestyle
    It’s a nice place for black white sing’les, to interact with each other…no bounds or extremes in front of true love.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Martina-Gunarova/100002916294918 Martina Gunarova

    This is so sad, I thought she has some class,,,,,,but this is sad and pathetic!!!!!!!!!

  • Tanya

    I hate the show, but I saw him on “Who do you think you are?’ a show where famous people go back through their family history. Away from the stage lights he suddenly becomes a likable guy.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/BCNSQDWIDR3ZSRKVDOBPXLUXV4 st. louis

    I certainly understand your plight, I am in the same position. I can only afford to pay for the second tier of cable channels the one just above basic cable. The OWN channel is in the third tier of channels through our provider which is Charter in the St. Louis area. It cost much more monthly. I even attempt to switch to DISH Network so that I could get OWN without more of an investment but learned when they came out that I have too many trees blocking the signal.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/BCNSQDWIDR3ZSRKVDOBPXLUXV4 st. louis

    This is serious crazy talk. I guess you think those politicians who are part of ALEC love this country? They are the ones who are traitors of this country and little people like you are blind gulible sheep.

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