Oxygen
was supposed to be a different kind of women's channel, and its sports
programming was a cornerstone of its philosophy. The website
still touts Oxygen as "the first network to dedicate a consistently-scheduled
block of TV programming, year round, to women's sports." But as
reported
this morning, the embattled company has laid off staffers (20, according to
Variety; 22, according to our insider) and has given up on its regular
sports programs, which prompted one insider to write in to the Bitch Box, "We
were supposed to change the world... And we were on the way — only to be
ditched for Xena."
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This week's Bitch
Box:
I wish I could submit something bitchy to Bitch
Box and take out my frustrations online and call Oxygen a den of asses and point
fingers and do all the stuff disgruntled employees like to do but, the truth
is, I can't. I'm much more disappointed and disillusioned than angry, more confused
than vengeful. Last week, the decision was made to nearly obliterate
the entire sports department at Oxygen (22 out of 30 people were let go). This
doesn't make sense for many reasons:
1. Sports shows are well-rated.
2. Investors (specifically Paul Allen, Oprah, Marcy Carsey) particularly
like the programming and feel it's important.
3. In keeping with Oxygen's initial statements, there is no greater
visual of a strong woman than an athlete; they provide great role models for
young women; and our TV coverage has already helped reverse some discrimination
in pay equity/sponsorship.
4. The stuff was groundbreaking. Nowhere else is there this kind
of programming about women's sports; Oxygen truly is on the cutting edge, and
stands apart from Lifetime and WE [the Women's Entertainmentchannel]
in this manner.
5. If it's about money, then why are they simultaneously building
five new edit rooms? Is it for yet another one of the company's failed pilots?
Or for repackaging Love
American Style and Kate
and Allie, two shows that, somehow, are more important than sports.
What really gets me is the hypocrisy. I used to brag about Oxygen and its mission
and ideals, believing that I was working in a place that valued women, was willing
to take risks, and was equally concerned with the larger effects of advocacy
and programming than money. Perhaps that's why it's doubly disheartening to
see most of my department being let go. We were supposed to show how strong
women are, how witty, how smart. We were supposed to change the world in our
own little (or big) way. And we were on the way — only to be ditched for
Xena.
Most were fired on Wednesday and told to leave for good on Friday.
Health benefits would only last until the end of the month — two weeks
at most. Employees were told their stock options, which convinced so many to
work there for less pay, were valueless. They were disinvited to the big birthday
bash in early April. And the whole time, the CEO was away in... Mexico? Puerto
Rico? On vacation, anyway. It was all very unwomanly.
