Watch OWN Reviews

by TeamKennedy

I love OWN and was so happy to see that they finally had an app that allowed me to watch my favorite shows! But WatchOWN is disappointing and frustrating to say the least. Long commercials that loop over and over again. Glitches that happen in the middle of the show that completely boot you out and make you start over from the beginning of the episode. And did I mention the never-ending commercials?! On more than one occasion, I've tried to watch an episode (of different shows) and deal, unsuccessfully, with the aforementioned issues and I just give up out of frustration and turn on Netflix. Really hoping the OWN team works to fix all these issues because if they do, WatchOWN will be just as fabulous as the channel:)

by Michigan Breeze Of Knowledge

Watching a show on OWN means you have to watch 5 commercial breaks plus one 30 second commercial at the beginning of each shows’ episode. Each of those 5 commercial breaks has 6 or 7 full length commercials. Part of the trend with Apple TV, streaming or Netflix/amazon is that you never watch commercials. So for there to be an average of 32.5 commercials per episode, it’s a hard pill to swallow. Let’s say I want to each two episodes, I’ll have to watch 65 commercials.

There was one old show I specifically sought out to watch OWN. But after I am done with this show that can only be watched on WatchOWN, I won’t be watching any more on OWN jus because of the commercials.

I would like to add that I wrote this is whole review during 1 of the commercial breaks. That is how long they are.

by Lacyayn

I am home a lot working on various projects and like to have background noise so I watch a lot of the discovery apps. (I know OWN is. It necessarily a discovery brand but their app is the same format). Lately I’ve been watching own’s live daily and I enjoy it. My problem is with their commercials. They repeat the same commercials multiple times during a break and it’s gotten ridiculous! For example, currently a “Nissan sales event” commercial is playing and twice today I’ve seen it FIVE times during ONE commercial break! It literally played 3 times back to back. I’ve got the dang thing memorized and it’s barely lunch time! I’m so sick of seeing the exact same commercial!!!! This seems to be a problem across all the go apps I’ve used (tlc, Id, own..) and the only response I get from customer service is “I’ve forwarded it to our technical team”. That was in February! Nothing has changed. Sooo frustrated and over it!!

by MommyOfLilly

I came to the reviews to see if anyone else was having problems logging into WatchOWN when you put your cable provider in and it seems like a very common issue. WatchOWN freezes or the page just won’t load after you put in your cable information. I tried logging in on my IPad, Firestick and my phone and was finally able to log in on my phone after trying for almost an hour. I was so excited to be disappointed once again. Not only does WatchOWN have a ridiculous amount of commercials for one show, WatchOWN crashed in the middle of it and then logged out of my cable provider. Once again, the page froze up when trying to log back in. I have deleted and reinstalled WatchOWN 3 times and it still freezes after attempting to submit my cable information. I’m sad to say I’m deleting WatchOWN for good and would not recommend anyone downloading it and getting stuck in this big loop of logging in, WatchOWN crashing, logging you out then trying it all over again. I would honestly give this 0 stars if I could.

😡😡

by SharronDenice

In order to get OWN I had to get the highest cable package and even then it wasn’t included. I had to then pay more to add it to the package because OWN is a super premium channel but Ok I still move forward.

Now I’m watching the episodes I missed on OWN and every 2 minutes I have to watch 2 minutes of commercials. Have some decency, cut this out or add a monthly fee for WatchOWN to stop this madness. No one wants to pay this much to still have to watch commercials. Please let us live and enjoy the network without having to watch these commercials on the OWN app. Just stop trying to sell us stuff all the time. Let us have a moment to just enjoy the network and if we choose to pay more for this opportunity? Allow us to, but please stop forcing us to watch sales pitches, we need an option to avoid this. Thank you

by Billie1979

I have had WatchOWN downloaded for well over a year. I don’t know why. I have NEVER been able to successfully watch ANYTHING on it. In the settings of my phone for my Own app, it shows me logged into my cable provider but the actual app acts as though I’m not and just spins the circle when I click “sign in” to my provider. Update after update and this never gets fixed. It makes absolutely no sense. I love everything on Own but I don’t watch anymore because of WatchOWN . WatchOWN is so terrible I won’t put it on tv either because without access to WatchOWN also I won’t be able to keep up with thins so I just say “screw it.” But I’m super disappointed. It’s 2019. *shaking my head*

by Pretty Jonesy

I’ve been an OWN app user for quite a while now however it’s getting to the point to where I’d rather not bother with WatchOWN at all. With a busy schedule, the connivence of being able to tune into my favorite shows at my own leisure is a great benefit. I enjoy tv and have a few cable apps downloaded to my phone however unlike the other apps OWN is the worst! The ads are ridiculous. I thought one of the benefits cable apps has to offer is limited to no commercials. OWN is the only cable app that plays up 8 commercials and frequently throughout the show. It takes away from enjoying the show on WatchOWN . You would think after paying for the network they would at least offer some type of benefit like other cable apps but no. Also, not to mention there is no 10 second rewind/fast forward option. So whatever you do do not rewind/fast forward to much because it’s a very strong possibility all those ads you had to patiently wait for to finish will pop back up for you to have to watch all 6-8 of them again. WatchOWN spares no pity for the watcher when it comes to the ads. The ads seem to be the most important aspect of WatchOWN . It’s possible that I could just be over reacting or possibly just beyond spoiled from the other cable apps that are just way better then the OWN app.

by Amtrak Fan

I have been having issue with WatchOWN for some time now where on the mobile phone version it doesn’t allow you to sign into your tv provider. When you click to sign in it acts as if it’s loading and just doesn’t load and the buffering biocontrol just goes away and will keep doing that every time you click on it. Now, the biggest issue and problem I have had was with the iPad version where you click on WatchOWN icon and all that will show is the welcome screen and WatchOWN just never load it just shows the welcome screen and that’s it and to get WatchOWN to properly work I have to delete it and re-download/re-install The OWN app and sign back into everything.

by Ms. Marcus

Up until about a week ago WatchOWN worked great. I was able to catch up on missed episodes. The latest version of WatchOWN does. To play on older versions of the iPad. An update to an app should not block older versions of device from seeing its content. I am able to download WatchOWN , it then it forces me to get the update in WatchOWN Store. When I go to WatchOWN Store its aye that the newer version of WatchOWN only works on 10.0 iOS. My iPad does not update that high. And I'm not buying another one just for the OWN app. All other apps update without any issues or problems with the version iOS I have. I also have a smart tv that is Google and the own app is. To available for that device at all. I guess I won't be able to watch anymore of my OWN shows.

by Jabaldes

I was absolutely THRILLED to find the OWN app and start watching quality shows. So much so, that I cancelled Netflix. I am shocked that WatchOWN is so glitchy. It continues to just kick me off during an episode ... then to add insult to injury, once I get the show and episode pulled back up, it starts it all the way back at the beginning vs. remembering my place. And then, the commercials... sweet niblets. Sooooo long and the exact same ones over and over again. So when I fast forward and try to find my spot, I get a truckload of the same ones I have been seeing for way too many minutes each break. Love the network, ready to give up and go back to Netflix because WatchOWN is making this way too painful. Fingers crossed OWN is not OK with this having their name and brand behind it and the issues get resolved quickly!

by Skylardei

I fell asleep during the many commercials. When I went back to find my place I had to watch 6 commercials first before I could even see where I was in the show, 30 seconds ran of the show and another set of 6 commercials ran I couldn’t even see enough of the show to see if I was where I wanted to be. I wasn’t. I Had to move 2 more times each time watching 6 commercials before I could see where I was in the show. I almost couldn’t be bothered to continue to watch thru all the commercials. In an hr show there were about 7 commercial breaks showing 6 commercials. If you want to back up or move forward you add a commercial brack for each move.

by Nessiemillie58

Have always loved the OWN network. However trying to locate it on tv programming for me in my area is very very difficult. It seems that availability is almost next to none. I started using WatchOWN especially since The Paynes are back, however trying to access the show through WatchOWN is difficult as well as for one thing the list of providers is very limited. The only way I can access WatchOWN to use I have to be within the current list of providers coverage area, and again that is not easy. Just an afterthought increase providers listing and add back to tv programming as well.

by Mlnhm

As a person with a hearing deficit, I often need to rewind, but there is not a button to rewind. User friendly apps have 10 or 30 second rewind buttons. Another difficulty is the commercials. When you rewind WatchOWN does not recognize that you’ve already watched that segment of commercials and it makes you watch them over again. NOT good! Many apps will skip over the commercials when you rewind, recognizing that you have already viewed that set of commercials. OWN needs to update WatchOWN to better utilize a rewind function without making the viewer constantly repeat the commercials. This issue stops me from watching most of the shows. Too exhausting.

by Kjohn1973

I hate to ding WatchOWN for it, but it crashes during those Ford commercials and I have to close the show and reopen it. There is no resume feature so you have to sit through 15 sec of commercials, them fast forward to the spot you left off then sit through another 3 minutes of commercials and hope that it doesn’t crash during the Ford commercial again. I’ve had it happen 2 to 3times in a row and it kills the viewing experience. I understand the network needs the commercials for revenue but please have someone check out the operation of your app periodically using regular (30mbps) internet connection speeds to ensure it’s properly working.

by Sherika Alexander

I love OWN, but I'm 50/50 with WatchOWN . I realized some time ago that I cannot watch my favorite OWN shows unless I'm connected to a wifi network. I have enabled the cellular data for WatchOWN in my settings but still, it won't allow. I have unlimited data and thought the purpose of downloading WatchOWN was to watch shows in an "on demand" type of way. I was told it is WatchOWN and not my provider. All of my other network apps don't give me a cellular over data issue when I try to connect to watch outside of a wifi connection. Other than that, its cool. I do wish you could watch uninterrupted though, with no commercials, but all of my network apps do that so its a fair call there.

by Crowned_phoenix

I love that I can access my favorite tv shows on the go. Until maybe November when I started using the application more. When I am watching a show WatchOWN crashes. Most times it’s during the ads. The ad will play for a few seconds, and then it stops. Te creen goes black. I close WatchOWN in attempts to refresh it and it does the same thing during ads. I can never complete the show. I’m not sure if it is an issue with my own phone or Apple product. I don’t watch television and stream mostly from my phone. It would be nice to be able to enjoy my favorite channel again.

by Shannon

So glad U-verse was added as a service provider!! I could not keep up before due to my provider (U-verse) wasn't listed. However my sister could as she was Direct TV. I'm very busy and on the go every week night and would forget to set record time so I'd have to stay up late or record overnight to watch what was missed. The OWN app allows me opportunity to keep up with shows and watch them whenever I'm between practices and games so no late nights and staying up late to watch recordings! Thanks OWN!!!

by Disa P. Pointed

LENGTH OF COMMERCIALS AND FREQUENCY OF COMMERCIAL BREAKS ARE EXCESSIVE AND DESTROY VIEWING EXPERIENCE.

The shows are great. A major flaw of WatchOWN is that it’s trying to replicate an ancient version television where you watch 3-4 minutes of commercials every several minutes. Given the number of commercial breaks and how lengthy they are I found my interest in the show and its plot for that episode to be diminished and having to reorient myself once the show returns only to have to sit through more commercials that I intentionally dont watch. It would be helpful if OWN was more creative in its approaches to advertising

by City Bee

I love the Own network. Thank you for putting out great content that symbolizes my own perspective. Oprah you are a blessing, since the age of years old i have always loved you and your shows. Thank you. Truly you have been a blessing in my life. I don’t think any of this would have been possible
had I not learned how to manifest my dreams into reality, life has shaped my humanity and made understand what love and loyalty looks like. You will always have my support: and so will my Lion King.)

by Dee Dee Jackson

I have nothing negative to say. WatchOWN is just fine to me. Once connected to the internet or a cable provider, everything works smoothly for me. I travel a great deal and it's always nice to watch my favorite shows live or the day after. Everything has a positive and a negative... it's about perspective. I choose to see the advantages of WatchOWN and all the good aspects of it. The negative will be there but that's not where I focus. Oprah, thank you for giving the world access to your amazing vision, to the many talents such as Ava, Tyler, Iyanla, and many more. I am and will continue to be inspired by you.

by DChery

WatchOWN is decent aside from the frequent crashing and all these ads. It took me so long to watch episode 104 of Black Love because WatchOWN kept on crashing. Every time I go back into WatchOWN and try to fast forward where it crashed at I have to first sit through commercials then the show comes back on for a few minutes then crashes again and the same thing over again. I checked WatchOWN Store to see if there maybe was an update for WatchOWN but there isn't.

I typically watch shows on apps specifically to avoid watching commercials and I get to enjoy most shows from other networks and Netflix app that way. WatchOWN has way too many commercials, I get that those commercials pay for the show but how do other network apps manage to not have commercials? I give it 3 stars cause I get to watch Greenleaf and Black Love that is all really.

by Yetta1214

WatchOWN is great and I can watch the shows I love from anywhere which is spectacular. The only problem I have come across is when looking for the current season of Iyanla: Fix My Life and I go to the show page within WatchOWN it shows me previous seasons but not the current season. It's a little difficult to figure out from the home page which are the most recent episodes of the current season. I hope they hurry up and create WatchOWN for the Firestick.

by Dr. ATF

When I first started watching WatchOWN the commercials were extremely long. I would only have so much time to try to watch an episode and would end up falling asleep or putting my phone away in frustration. The last 2 episodes of Iyanla fix my life was perfect! 1 commercial at the beginning and 1 at the end. I was able to fit in 2 episodes tonight instead of my 1/2 an episode due to the commercials. It was like you all read my mind. On another note, I actually remember years ago when people doubted this whole “OWN” network thing Oprah was doing was gonna work. 😆😆😆😆Aren’t haters adorable😆😆😆.