"Oprah Winfrey Show" May Leave ABC, Broadcast Syndication In 2011

Update: Harpo states that Oprah has yet to decide whether she will end her show after the 2011 season:

In a statement issued this afternoon, however, Harpo responded: "While David Zaslav's comments are true that Oprah's current contract to produce The Oprah Winfrey Show will expire in 2011, she has not made a final decision as to whether she will continue her show in syndication beyond that," says Lisa Halliday, chief spokesperson for Harpo Productions, Inc.

In fact, a clause existed in her current contract that would have let the talk-show queen end the show in 2010, but she recently chose to extend the show's run through the contract's full term.

Original Post: Oprah Winfrey will take her blockbuster talk show out of broadcast syndication and move it to her own cable channel, the Oprah Winfrey Network, by 2011, it was revealed in the Discovery Channel's earnings call Friday morning.

Broadcasting & Cable's Paige Albiniak reports that Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced the impending switch Friday morning, which is news inasmuch as Winfrey had previously announced she would be ending the show when its syndication deal ran out:

"The current expectation is that after fall 2011 her show will go off of ... syndication, and she will come to OWN," the cable network that Winfrey's production company, Harpo, is creating in conjunction with Discovery.

"We are talking right now about what that presence would be and what programming she would be involved in directly, but this is her chapter two, and building the OWN brand online and on-air is something and she and I are working on together. It is a core mission for her," Zaslav said.

Winfrey's distribution deal, which she re-signed with King World's late Roger King in August 2004, expires in fall 2011. That marks the end of Oprah's 25th season.

At that year's gathering of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) in Las Vegas, Winfrey told a gathering "I really do think that's going to be it."

If Winfrey were any other TV talent, the news that she would be departing daytime when her contract expired would be a non-issue, but Winfrey has previously said she was ending the show.

In January, Oprah and the Discovery Channel announced that they were teaming up to launch the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2009 OWN will replace Discovery Health, which will place it in 70 million homes nationwide.

Comments

[zbearlady]

My first introduction to Barack Obama was on the Oprah show -long before he introduced his run for the presidency. I knew then that this was special and unique man, and someone I wanted to learn more about.

As I have followed his steady and moral climb towards Commander and Chief, all my initial instincts about him have been proven true. Because of his ethical actions and the goodness of his character -as well his stance on important issues- I have dared to believe that we can actually have integrtiy restored back in government.

Obama inspired me to write this song/video -in support of our children -our future generations! It is titled, 'For the Children' and it is my gift of love to the planet. I hope it touches and inspires all who watch it -as Barack Obama has inspired me! Here is a youtube link to share as you feel moved: -Lynn Zanetta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gi3VNLhHq4

[johnnygoodwud]

i think oprah is bored,,,,,,,,,,,,she calls it quits in 2011 and 2012 she ready to enter politics. seriously if arnold can do it, venture did it, why couldn't she? 'O' @'O' in 2012

[CassG]

Oprah is more than a name, it's a brand. She did not necessarily create that brand on her own. It was founded by the MILLIONS who watch her daily. How many people have uttered " Did you see Oprah yesterday?" I do not understand how people can be so hateful toward this woman who has overcome so much from her unconventional looks, size, and race to become a generational icon. She showed the utmost respect to her viewers by not campaigning for Obama on her show, even though I feel she had every right to do so. Afterwards, I looked forward to her commentary on the election especially because I now how difficult it must have been to eep her feelings under wraps. Why, because she is a woman, did people insist that she support Se. Clinton or Gov. Palin interviewed on her show? That is the most ridiculous argument that shows how shallow some women really are! For those who do not like her show, or magazine, or radio channel, or upcoming network, PLEASE do not watch or listen. The rest of us will continue to enjoy her as entertainment and respect her through her good works.

[toocoldout]

Great post. You are a class act.

[Retrofuturistic]

I used to like the show, but she has become SO narcissistic. I don't have the stomach to watch it at all now.

[2351]

Have we seen how fox news has tried to put her in her place this week. Apparently they think that she is out of place speaking up about her feelings about the election and so fox has been trashing her since the election. Okay Oprah, you'd better get back in your place. Who do you think you are speaking out? We're not going to have that. The more you speak out the more you're going to get trashed. You go girl. Thanks for helping Barack.

[toocoldout]

They really tried to trash her right after his convention speech in August when she gushed about his speech to reporters, telling them she cried her eye-lashes out.

[gi]

Fox don't count they hate anybody that does good for minority. Oohh! But lord and behold they wiill do everything and anything to back Sarah Palin and looser John McCain.

[robinwilliams]

I agree, everyone knows that Fox is prejudice and they don't count. People that are prejudice lacks morals. Losers lose and winners win

[LeslieM]

Regardless or your opinion of Ms. Winfrey, before her there wasn't a woman who had a successful daytime talk show. Her show did unseat Phil Donahue. Her success has made the path easier for others.

She has many Daytime Emmy awards and over the years encouraged people to read, give to others through the Angel Network, and try to improve their lives. All this after a traumatic childhood and coming from meager beginnings.

If she was not relevant, she would not be a household name. Try to find someone who doesn't know who Oprah Winfrey is. Lastly, like her or not, if she were giving away cars or other gifts on her show, most of us would be lined up around the corner to be there.

[toocoldout]

Not only that but if you read the book FREAKS TALK BACK by Yale sociologist Joshua Gamson, it argues that the tabloid talk show genre, pioneered by Donahue, but turned into a giant industry by the success of Oprah, did more to makes gays mainstream & socially acceptable than any other development of the 2oth century. That's the main reason Ellen had her play the therapist on her coming out show. Then when Oprah abandoned the tabloid format in the mid 1990s, she did more to make literature accessible to the masses than anyone since the inventor of the printing press. And her long-time focus on church-free inclusive spirituality has done more to cause the decline of organized religion than Christopher Hitchens & Bill Maher combined. Long before she helped elect Obama, this woman had changed the world.

[MarcInCA]

Good riddance. Enough with her already.

[toocoldout]

No one's forcing you to watch her. But obviously millions upon millions of us enjoy her otherwise she wouldn't be the highest rated talk show on TV for nearly a quarter century.

[gi]

Stop hating!

[Noir Kiss3]

She is an annoying narcissist.

[XME]

I don't watch her everyday, but I do like her show (when she's not doing those repetitive topicss like Dr. Oz, etc.) One thing is for sure, with all the years her show has been around, it's hard to imagine it NOT being around anymore!

[gracewithease]

I am so grateful for her work, her accomplishments, her service to humanity.

[toocoldout]

I feel the same way.

[stefiz]

me too!!!
she is awesome!

[SwingingFromCenter]

I honestly don't know why she's still on to this day.

I mean she's at that age where it's pretty obvious she's not gonna have any kids.
She's already worth over a billion dollars.

How much money can she possibly need/spend in the next 30 years?

[toocoldout]

So many people in history have sacrificed so much to make it possible for a black woman to become the billionaire Queen of all media that it must be very hard for her to ever retire. But I think now that Obama is president, largely because of the one million votes she delivered in the primary, she has used her influence as brilliantly as possible. It will be a very sad day when she retires into the sunset but I smile at the thought of her spending more time with all of the daughters she has at her school in Africa.

[dotbombus]

This is thedumbest comment ever.

Has Warren Buffett stopped working? He has more money than he knows what to do with

Guess Larry King also needs to get off the air. He is old and isn't doing it for the money. Every actor over 50 should also stop working because they've been doing it too long.

The part about kids? Acenine.

Think before you write, people.

[northstar11]

ace nine is that like a 'pair of jacks' or did you mean asinine

[dct1999]

Better question:

how many people can she help over the next 30 years?

[gi]

It's not about money it's about doing and reaching out to as many people as she can while she is still breathing and living on this earth.

[robinwilliams]

Oprah gives her money to all races. Despite her age she is educated, smart and chooses not to have children. Her choice. She is FREE, no more slavery..so she can make choices the way she wants. How much do you make and how much are you contributing to others (different races etc.) What is your contribution to society? What is your degree level? Are should you rethink your statement. Doesn't matter if you are black, white, democratice or republican, where does your intelligence lie.

How much money can you possibly spend in the next 30 years?

[BluePrideSMW]

Bible Spice has the perfect platform to run a 1 2 2 0 campaign...

The Obamas are Moving On UP!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf3uGsMxsoQ

A sublime Moms Mabley version of Abraham, Martin & John. It's President-Elect Obama's Legacy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge32xtm23rQ

[gi]

If thats how you see it that it's all about them moving on up in this manner you have a small mind.

[MinneapolisBob]

For all of those who are bashing Oprah and spewing hate--enough!

It's a new day and a new time in OUR great country. I am sure most of you, if not all, voted on Tuesday; and did so in favor of President Elect Obama. We are all on the same side--America. Let's stop the hate and the bashing, and think about what we can all do to make OUR great nation better.

[vasta]

I absolutely agree. Enough with all the negativity. I am scared to death for this country.

[mpgarr]

While Oprah may end her daily show----I will betcha dimes to donuts---she is not going to leave the airwaves--there are all sorts of models of other forms of shows she could do-----most likely a weekly show of some sort-----either done live or taped.

One live show a week would be a heck of a lot less of a load than five shows a week.

Oprah is not going away--you can be sure of that.

I am not a big fan---but I sure don't hate her like some obviously do--what the hell has gotten into people that we have to think that someone sucks because they become succesful???

Isn't that what we all strive for in our lives??? Some measure of success--however we define it for ourselves???? Is that somehow a bad thing???

WTF is with that crap????!!!!!!!!!

[toocoldout]

People don't expect an overweight black woman who entertains soccer moms to emerge as one of the richest and most influential people on the planet so they are pulling their hair out in frustration. It's common knowledge in psycholgy that nothing upsets people more than that which violates their expectations. They expect overweight black women entertainers to stay in their place & the fact that Oprah dares to be on top of the world makes their stomach turn. People are very petty, bigoted & elitist.

[UWNBM]

Her show long ago lost its relevancy...Sayonara, O.!

[toocoldout]

Considering it's now been proven that she got Obama over a million votes in the Democratic primary it seems she's more relevant than ever. And who needs relevance when you have billions of dollars?