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

(617)

Thursday 19 November

By Yuro

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Oprah has been overexposed in the media for years now. An egotist, she always has HER picture on her magazine, "O". Her questions to her guests are not half as thoughtful or academic as those of Phil Donohue or Mike Douglas; rather, she merely parrots what has already been said

By nancybaby

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You mean buck from her billions?

Sunday 22 November

By richard

About time Oprah is going. I never watched her anyhow. She is God to many people who don't know any better. She has misled many with her gospel according to Oprah. She thinks Obama is great so we know her thinking is messed up. She probably spent millions to see Obama get elected. What a waste of money that could have fed many hungry American Children.

By Will

In a word: Hallelujah! What a shame that the date wasn't September of THIS year!

By missyr1005

She should do us all a favor, and end it NOW!

Missy

By charles

Thanks Opera for all you have done for humanity.You have influenced many lives in a positive way more than you realize,What a woman!

By andy

so what she's grooming Sarah Palin? well she did launch another hick, Doctor Phil!

By CONservative

Gee , all this whining about Oprah/ No consideration for Palin taking those wonderful grandkids of hers out of school again.

By peter granados

Opra has been around for a long time and i would watch her when I could sence I was 13 years old. Now I didnt watch daily but she was very interesting to watch and all the topics she had talked about. My heart goes out to her and if I could I would help her out since she already did to me and alot of people!!!

By sneezemd

Best news I've heard in a while. She pushed for her candidate Mr Obama and he won in part because of her help, so now she can enjoy his economy too. (oh right, she's loaded) She turned her back on half of the people who watched her by not being neutral.

Friday 20 November

By freda

Remember one thing; your boy Bush is to blame for this economy, not Mr. Obama. YOU KNOW HE, MR. OBAMA, WAS NOT IN OFFICE WHEN THE ECONOMY TURNED SOUR. He was handed this mess on a dirty platter by your ex-president, Bush. Think about it. Stop blaming our President, Barack Obama, for the worst economic problems America has had since the great depression. THIS IS BUSH'S BABY!!!!! NOT OBAMA'S. A black man did not cause this problem. Be truthful with yourselves. You know where the economic problems came from.

By Shelly

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

FINALLY...off to the FAT FARM !!!

By chris

Good riddance!

By SHARIANN MILLS

I DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR HER. IT WAS BAD SHOW.

By Nan

I quit watching her once she kept trying to cram BARACK and MICHELLE down our throats...it was sickening! Then to top everything off, she flew off on OUR jet ... give me a break!

By Fedup

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Oh! Yes! ['nuff said!]

By raginCaucasian

are we supposed to mourn that date too in this country..sept "9" 20"11"..arent shows usually starting their new season the beginning of sept?..how is hers ending?..good riddence

By Tom K

Vote down Vote up Report this

To Coleen,

Is that why she attracted you?

thank god.

By Mike

Wow a glimmer of hope in the year we call "craptastic". Now where will her audience go or as I call them "sheep"? She is a racist and anti-God. Good riddance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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