Oprah Announces Show's End in 2011

By PopEater Staff Posted Nov 19th 2009 06:33PM

The end of Oprah Winfrey's 20+ year television reign will end in 2011 -- or will it simply just take over the cable world on Winfrey's own network?

In a statement released Thursday afternoon by Harpo, Inc. -- Winfrey's production company behind her massive empire -- the company announced that the talk show queen will tell her audience and the world of her show's end on Friday. "The sun will set on the "Oprah" show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011," the statement published by WIVB.com says of Winfrey's impending bombshell.

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Oprah Winfrey Pics

Oprah Winfrey is seen here with Sarah Palin and family during a taping of her show in which the former vice presidential candidate appeared. Click for More Oprah Pics >>>

Harpo Productions, Inc.

Heidi and Spencer Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt leave the Alexa Chung Show at the MTV Studios in Mid Town Manhattan, where the promotional pair share a kiss... again. NON-EXCLUSIVE November 16, 2009 Job: 91117Z1 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Heidi Montag (L) and Spencer Pratt promote "How to be Famous" at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on November 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Heidi Montag;Spencer Pratt

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt promote "How to be Famous" at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on November 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Heidi Montag;Spencer Pratt

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Spencer Pratt promotes "How to be Famous" at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on November 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Spencer Pratt

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For weeks, rumors of a change in Oprah's show -- namely buzz that Winfrey would be taking her show off of syndicated public television and onto her own cable network -- grew at a frenzied pace. There had been little communication from Oprah or Harpo until this bombshell announcement.

The statement written by Harpo president Tim Bennett says that Winfrey "has decided to end what is arguably one of the most popular, influential and enduring programs in television history," adding that her announcement "will mark an historic television moment that we will all be talking about for years to come."

Bennett vaguely alluded to Winfrey's future plans in his statement, saying that "if you think the last quarter century has been something, then 'don't touch that dial' as together we plan to make history in the next 20 months...and beyond."

Oprah with Charla Nash

Oprah with Sarah Palin

In a report earlier this month, Deadline Hollywood Daily blogger Nikki Finke reported that Winfrey would be taking her show to her cable network OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network) and that there was a good deal of behind-the-scenes tension between Winfrey, CBS and Discovery Communications over the decision. Finke's reporting seems to be dead-on, as the Nov. 5 post stated: "in several weeks, Oprah will tell the public that she's ending her syndicated Chicago-based daytime talk show when her current deal runs out and moving it to OWN headquarters in Los Angeles probably as soon as mid-2011."

TMZ is reporting that Winfrey's protege Dr. Oz may have something to do with the announcement, or at least the timing of it. According to the Web site, Winfrey hopes that once she's off of ABC, the 'Oz' show will then take over in her time slot.

According to the New York Times, both CBS and ABC stand to lose millions from her departure.

CBS owns syndication rights to Oprah's show, while ABC airs the program -- which generates high ratings and leads into the network's local news.

Tags: oprah winfrey, Oprah Winfrey Show, OprahWinfrey, OprahWinfreyShow

Comments

(632)

Friday 20 November

By zojoe

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Oprah has done a lot to help other people, and I wish her the best in her future endeavors. Power to Obama too!! May God Bless America, and His children.

Thursday 19 November

By MTM

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

She should have ended it before it got started - it sucks.

By Glenna

Yeah, yours is a lot better.

By Tim Shockley

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Oprah is 55 like Jimmy Carter has a brain. She was a TV news anchor when I was still in my teen's and I am a long way from my 50's. She has been lifted so many times it is a wonder she does not float.

By poot

Yeah mtm, it sucks. that's why it's been on for 20 years... and Tim Shockley, you must be an idiot neocon... you just make it up as you go along. She's born in 1954 (of course it might take you two seconds to look up the facts), and she's never been a news anchor. Period. Not sure what fantasyland you're living in, but you may want to start taking your medication again. She got her start in Chicago as a co-host in 1974 on A.M. Chicago. You're a long ways from your fifties? Which direction? Because if you were a teenager in 1974, bubba, you are in your fifties. Take a minute and check next time, you won't look so much like a blathering neocon idiot. Oh yeah, Carter has a Nobel Prize and a doctorate in nuclear engineering... how pathetic is your life, making up lies to post to AOL? No go crawl back under that rock you crawled out from under.

By liz

Man so much hate for the O's well guess what not a damn thing you can do about either of them...your jealous opinions are just like noses we all have one...

By Jen

Poot...seems to me that if Oprah was born in 1954, she would indeed be 55 years old unless her BD is in end of Nov or Dec. Also, she got her start in VA or NC? She did "special interest" segments on a news program. Maybe you should check your facts...Shockey wasn't so wrong after all.

By JayT

"It sucks" thats not what the rating says idiot. Or her fat bank account. Highest rated talkshow ever. And you watched you bigot.

By Dk

I could not have agreed more. Opera was starting to wear out the stomach lining. And the last straw was when she brought Charla Nash on. So glad that she will be off the air. Take her fat body and her Docters with her. Good riddens

By LovelyHoney

Thank goodness no one listens to people like YOU - LOL!

The woman's rich--she doesn't give a damn what YOUR KIND THINKS and never will!

By Lou

At least Oprah and Obama have the intelligence to formulate thoughts and express them without destroying the english language. Eight years of that was enough....

She might not have been the first (Donahue, Barbara) but she CERTAINLY did it better!

By jacs

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jackass!!!

By J

This is in response to "Poot". Jimmy Carter got a bachelor of science degree from the U. S. Naval Academy. However, HE DOES NOT HAVE A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ANYTHING. He took some graduate level courses in reactor technology and nuclear physics in the submarine program at Union College and was a senior officer on the nuclear sub, USS Seawolf for about a year until he left to take over his family's peanut farm when his father died in 1953.

By jerry w

Hey POOT, idiot, know it all. She was a news anchor in Nashville, Tn. Read before you try engaging your mouth dummy!

By Jim

YOUR RIGHT IT DID AND DOES SUCK. The stupid fat ass.

Saturday 21 November

By bboone0112

Well, now that Oprah is relocating to a place that she desires she now sucks. When Oprah first came on AIR all you hear is people talking about her show. People couldn't wait to get home to watch her show. So the reason you say that oprah suck from the begining up to now well, people called them haters. Let the successful "Lady" live her life you only once.