Oprah Winfrey's struggling network,... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this April 14, 2011 publicity image originally released by OWN, TV personality and media mogul Oprah Winfrey presents at the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network portion of the Discovery Communications... (Associated Press) 
 
 The decision to let 30 employees go is a "tough" one, but the economics of a start-up cable network didn't fit with OWN's cost structure, Winfrey said in a statement. Neal Kirsch, chief financial officer of Discovery's U.S. networks, will move to OWN as the chief financial officer and chief operating officer, reporting to OWN presidents Erik Logan and Sheri Salata. In January, she launched her own show, "Oprah's Next Chapter," and ratings have since climbed.
– This week on Oprah: dealing with unemployment. The Oprah Winfrey Network is laying off a fifth of its workers as part of a major restructuring at the cable network, which has struggled for ratings since its launch last year, AP reports. "It is difficult to make tough business decisions that affect people's lives, but the economics of a start-up cable network just don't work with the cost structure that was in place," Winfrey said in a statement. The move will cut the network's head count by some 30 people, saving it $20 million over the next two years, an insider tells the Wall Street Journal. That comes on top of savings of close to $25 million made by canceling Rosie O'Donnell's talk show a few days ago. Executives from Discovery Communications, which co-owns the channel with Winfrey, will be taking a more active role in the channel after the restructuring.