The 'O' of OWN is a reference to the media mogul OPRAH Winfrey. OPRAH is best known for her talk show, The OPRAH Winfrey Show, which ran from 1986 to 2011 and was the highest-rated television program of its kind in history. She is also the founder of the OPRAH Winfrey Network (OWN), a cable channel launched in 2011. OPRAH has been an influential figure in the entertainment industry and is widely regarded as one of the most influential women in the world.