In Depth

Harpo Contradicts Claim That ‘Oprah’ Expected to End in 2011

Harpo Productions is pouring cold water on a claim that Oprah Winfrey is expected to end her syndicated show in September 2011.

Discovery Communications CEO David Zaslav today said his company, which is partnering with Ms. Winfrey to launch the Oprah Winfrey Network on cable next year, expects her to terminate “The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2011, when her contract expires, to focus on OWN.

“The expectation is that after that, her show will go off of ABC in syndication and she will come to OWN," Mr. Zaslav said during an earnings conference call. “We’re talking now about what the presence will be and what kind of programming she would be involved in directly. But this is her Chapter 2, and building the OWN brand online and on air is . . . A core mission for her.”

Ms. Winfrey’s representatives said Mr. Zaslav’s expectations may be premature.

"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," said Lisa Halliday, chief spokesperson for Harpo Productions, Inc.

The 2011-12 season would be Ms. Winfrey’s 26th season as host of “Oprah.” Her current contract allowed for an opt-out clause in 2010, but she recommitted to the entire contract in 2004.

The syndicator for "Oprah," CBS Television Distribution, said it is hopeful that Ms. Winfrey will continue her show. That decision, they said, is up to her.

“We are thrilled that 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' will continue production through the 2010–2011 season, its 25th year on the air,” CBS Television Distribution said in a statement. “We are grateful to Ms. Winfrey, her producers and all of our affiliates who remain committed to bringing viewers this exceptional series. We would certainly welcome and hope that ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ would continue in syndication beyond that, but that is a decision only Ms. Winfrey will be making.”

(Editor: Baumann. Updated 12 p.m. to add CBS TV Distribution quote in last paragraph.)

Leave a comment

Comments 75

Gage

user-pic

This would be awesome!

Ralph

user-pic

I already feel the pain.

Mike G

user-pic

So she's going to have her very OWN network? Great, I guess she's already figured that her new political openness is going to cost her in the ratings and that Obama is going to need an ally in the broadcasting world, once the luster rubs off of his facade and the media begin to turn on him...just as they did Clinton!

user-pic

"Her show will go off of ABC in syndication"...
Hey genius, her show airs on ABC, CBS, NBC, and other stations IN syndication. Really, how did you get this job? By reaching your hand into a jar? Hey David Zaslav, Who Ya Crappin'?

Jermaine C.

user-pic

This is a comment to Mike G's posting on 11/7:

My goodness Mike, you are quite the positive individual aren't you? You sound just a tad bitter about Obama's recent success - what a shame.

Unfortunately, Oprah's ratings won't drop at all - in fact, her numbers climbed immediately after the election and is expected to do so from here on. If anything - based on what your asserting - her ratings should've dropped drastically after she had Bush 43 on her show, but you see that didn't happen.

Perhaps you should take up a job as a pundit at FOX News Channel......we just know how on-target they've been the past 8 years.

jessie

user-pic

T-Dog he is right when he says ABC, Oprah is syndicated by CBS but CBS and Oprah renewed it's deal with ABC, where as Oprah is available in all of the ABC owned-and-operated stations around the country from example WABC, KABC, WLS etc. those stations are required to have Oprah but CBS can syndicate the show to whichever stations that they want in other markets besides the markets that ABC's owned and operated stations are, also in the deal Oprah produces TV shows, movies and specials for ABC's primetime network programming and you saw that via Oprah's Big Give, A Raisin in the Sun, Oprah's Legends Ball back in 2002, Building a Dream: The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy etc. Back when Oprah took over AM Chicago and it was ready to go national because of the ratings success, ABC wanted to make the Oprah show what the View is today and show it exclusively on ABC affiliates and have ABC and it's affiliates pay her one check but she wanted to own the show and syndicate it to different affiliates and in a way have her own network, so she gets paychecks from all the different stations and decides the leverage of the contract for different markets, for example it might cost more for WABC to carry Oprah in NYC than it would for say WBAL to carry it in Baltimore, MD because NYC is a bigger market so she makes more there than in Baltimore, whereas if she were to be with ABC exclusively it would cost the same for a station in Baltimore and NYC to carry Oprah because they are all in the same network, which is how she has become a billionaire. CBS acquired the company King World 2 yrs ago (the deal was made 4 years ago before CBS could be involved) which used to do the syndication part for Oprah which is why CBS isn't capitalizing on a deal for it's owned and operated stations. Oprah also has loyalty with ABC because she has worked for them all her life, when she was in Baltimore WJZ was an ABC affiliate then she moved to WLS which was also an ABC affiliate, today she is on ABC owned and operated affiliates.

robin caverly

user-pic

i was just wondering if you could do something if you can;t that;s okay but i;am a big fan of the star of house i watch it all the time 3 times a week sat sun & tuesdays.if i could i would really like to meet him. i think that he does a great job on house. please if you can send me an email and let me know if this is possible thanks again have a nice day.

user-pic

Excellent job.

user-pic

Thank you for a great post

user-pic

Re. Gap's logo: I find it hard to sufficiently stress the power of the fuck I do not give.

user-pic

Lindsay Lohan is eligable for getting a sentence of one year and this would result in her doing about 30 days. She has earned the longer time in jail and now we can all wish there's a judge who see's this.

user-pic

The color black stands for elegance, class, style and elegance. When we talk about the exclusive Designer Luxury Handbags black bus, then the meaning of our prayer becomes even clearer. When we go into detail, and then Coach bags in various shapes and sizes, and said the most famous leather, to be human. The authenticity of a black coach bag is its unique quality of the leather. What we mean here is the outstanding quality of the fabric in the manufacture of bags used an extraordinary item. The colors here are fascinating, and seems well with the latest shapes and designs. At the same time range the models used and have a nice view.

user-pic

I come and read constantly. very nice blog

user-pic

I come and read constantly. very nice blog.Thank you.

user-pic

Coach Designer Knockoff Handbags pink is one of the most popular models of scholarship offered to coach. They are not only practical but very stylish and attractive. pink bag is perfect for an evening with the girl, or a city tour. different outfits require different types of fence, but not all cases are the same. These bags are the most coveted bags in the bus cabin.

user-pic

This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. It is the old what goes around comes around routine. Did you acquired lots of links and I see lots of trackbacks??

user-pic

Kudos to you! This is a really good blog here and I love your style of writing. How did you get so good at blogging?

user-pic

It's not always the case online - you search around and find posts that aren't so good but this post really was good.

user-pic

Kudos for writing this information, I don’t know about everyone else, but I could totally use it.

user-pic

I come and read constantly. very nice blog

user-pic

I really enjoyed the site so I used my Digg account to digg it - should help you

user-pic

Searched Yahoo/Bing and ended up here - its good so I posted the site on my Facebook account !

user-pic

This is the best blog I've ever seen in my life! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to share your this with everyone.

user-pic

I added Google Reader to your site when I have spare time try to follow.Thank you.

user-pic

Interesting thoughts here. I appreciate you taking the time to share them with us all. It's people like you that make my day :)

user-pic

Way to focus and straight to your point, i love it. Keep up the work people. Dont let anyone stop us bloggers.

user-pic

High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

user-pic

Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host are you using? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

user-pic

Thanks to your info but I'm owning some difficulties seeing images.

user-pic

Just what i needed thanks for this knowledge. A Wonderful page of knowledge.

user-pic

Thanks for your insight for the great written piece. I am glad I have taken the time to read this.

user-pic

Neat blog layout! Very easy on the eyes.. i like the colors you picked out

user-pic

Very okay. agree with most people

user-pic

I really loved the site so I used my Digg account to digg it - should help you

user-pic

Great wordpress blog here.. It's hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care and see you soon

user-pic

Dreamin. I love blogging. You all express your feelings the right way, because they are your feeling, focus on your blog it is great.

user-pic

keep

user-pic

I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply back as I'm looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks

user-pic

I keep

user-pic

This is good info! Where else can if ind out more?? Who runs this joint too? Keep up the good work :)

user-pic

I would like to start my own blog one day. This was a really nice blog that you made here. Keep up the success :P

user-pic

Cheers for expressing the data

user-pic

Amazing freakin blog here. I almost cried while reading it!

user-pic

Great blog!! You should start many more. I love all the info provided. I will stay tuned :)

user-pic

I also use wordpress for my website. The best thing is that comments add additional content. By the way, your chosen design suits perfetcly what is site about.

user-pic

High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

user-pic

I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I've bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.

user-pic

I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it's rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.. :)

user-pic

Very nice details , I ascertained your web site on google and scan a couple of of the other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep on up the great single valued function Look forward to taking extra from you in the future. Tiffanys necklace

user-pic

sacxwqcwqcwqc

user-pic

I like your blog.

user-pic

I like your blog.

user-pic

Good day. First of all - fantastic blog! Secondly this information was also good and interesting to read, but I don't think everything you have said is completely true. I will need to google about few things you have mentioned in your artcile to make sure. But anyway thanks for the great effort and good luck on writing other articles. P.S sorry for bad English, I aren't English native speaker.

user-pic

This is good info! Where else can if ind out more?? Who runs this joint too? Keep up the good work :)

user-pic

Superior storie, it's real awesome. I did a search on the subject matter and found nearly all persons will agree with your blog. Thank's for you notify. My points about how to seo software. I think you made various excellent points in features also.

user-pic

I like your blog.

user-pic

Excellent to read from a man who really can talk about it.

user-pic

Hello
Thanks for sharing this useful info. Keep up the excellent work.

user-pic

Insightful content:D Will need some time to think about your job!!

user-pic

Please, can you PM me and tell me a couple of more things about this, I am really lover of your blog...

user-pic

This is such a fantastic resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing internet websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. It's the old what goes around comes around routine. Regards...

user-pic

Hi I really like your ideas very much. I saw your blog on Bing and I am certain you will receive many visitors.

user-pic

Thanks for your insight for the great written piece. I am glad I have taken the time to read this.

user-pic

Can't believe there's not going to be anymore Oprah soon. What a shame.

user-pic

Cant say I am not suprised by your article. All of them are interested but this one is great.Just keep on!

user-pic

nice post i suggest this site too :),http://www.ihavewedding.com

user-pic

Between me and my husband we've owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I've settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.

user-pic

Wow! I just saw this writing from Yahoo! and I consider this very awesome. This is one of the interesting post this day. Please continue what you do that is interesting for you and everyone.

user-pic

Hey, really enjoyed this post! Shed light on a few things I didn't understand. Thank you.

user-pic

Wonderful blog. I will take some time to examine the article=D

user-pic

Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it's been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

user-pic

Can I just say what a release en route for come across a big name who truly is familiar with what theyre talking regarding on top of the web. You definitely tell how toward transport an topic to light and construct it significant. More people call for to read this plus realize this side of the story. I cant believe youre not extra well-liked because you absolutely have the gift.

user-pic

Keep focusing on your blog. I love how we can all express our feelings. This is an extremely nice blog here :)

user-pic

hello, this might end up being small offtopic, however i am hosting my website on hostgator and they'll postpone my personal web hosting within 4days, so i'd like to inquire about you which web hosting do you use or recommend?

user-pic

Think your pride and block this disarray