Oprah network ratings picking up steam

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LOS ANGELES, March 3 (UPI) -- U.S. television ratings show the Oprah Winfrey Network getting a boost from "Oprah's Next Chapter" and timely specials aired last month.

The Hollywood Reporter said OWN saw its February prime time viewership numbers perk up 12 percent over last year and overall day ratings improve 29 percent.

February played into Oprah's strength in celebrity interviews by being Oscar month and with the sudden death of Whitney Houston the week of the Grammys. Winfrey conducted the last in-depth interview with the troubled singer and had a 2-hour special on the air within a week of her demise.

The Reporter said "Oprah's Next Chapter" continued to do well with a sit-down with motivational speaker Tony Robbins drawing 514,000 viewers, which compared with 1.6 million who tuned in the month before when Oprah's guest was Joel Osteen.