Oprah Winfrey attends "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Season 24 Kickoff Party on Michigan Avenue on September 8, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (September 7, 2009 - Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images North America)
On Friday, November 20, 2009, Oprah Winfrey will make an announcement that she’s giving up her popular daytime show when her contract ends in September 2011.
“We have the greatest respect for Oprah and we wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors, we do know anything she turns her hand to will be a great success,” said a spokesman for the CBS Television Studios, which distributes her show, which airs on ABC in New York.
“We look forward to working with her for the next several years, and hopefully afterwards as well.”
Representatives of Oprah Winfrey has notified TV stations airing the worldwide-syndicated TV talk show, along with other companies connected to Harpo Productions that the decision was made.
“Tomorrow, Oprah will announce live on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ that she has decided to end what is arguably one of the most popular, influential and enduring programs in television history,’” Harpo president Tim Bennett said in the letter, which told stations to share the news.
“The sun will set on the ‘Oprah’ show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011.”
Rumors are spreading that Oprah Winfrey has partnered with Discovery Networks to launch the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), which she will program. It had been scheduled this year, and the latest buzz has it going live in 2011.
With reports from NY Daily News and Richard Huff
