Before David left for Chicago, we discussed the basic 50–50 structure of the joint venture he proposed. We would contribute the distribution base of Discovery Health, along with content rights and cash funding that we would recover out of the network’s first profits. Oprah, for her part, would contribute content rights, a half interest in Oprah.com, and her leadership of the new channel. In other joint venture channels, such as with the New York Times, Discovery had always insisted on editorial control. With Oprah at the helm of a channel bearing her name, we felt confident in her having total
...more
