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Oprah talk show will end in 2011 | Oprah talk show will end in 2011 |
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The Oprah Winfrey Show is to end in September 2011 after more than two decades on air, the production company behind the programme has said. | The Oprah Winfrey Show is to end in September 2011 after more than two decades on air, the production company behind the programme has said. |
Billionaire Ms Winfrey, 55, one of the most influential women in the US, has hosted the show since 1986. | Billionaire Ms Winfrey, 55, one of the most influential women in the US, has hosted the show since 1986. |
A spokesman for the star's Harpo production company would not say why Winfrey had decided to quit, but said she would discuss it on Friday's show. | A spokesman for the star's Harpo production company would not say why Winfrey had decided to quit, but said she would discuss it on Friday's show. |
Winfrey is expected to focus instead on the launch of her own TV channel. | Winfrey is expected to focus instead on the launch of her own TV channel. |
She already runs a satellite radio station, Oprah Radio, with presenters including Dr Maya Angelou and sex therapist Dr Laura Berman. | She already runs a satellite radio station, Oprah Radio, with presenters including Dr Maya Angelou and sex therapist Dr Laura Berman. |
"The sun will set on the Oprah show as its 25th season draws to a close on 9 September 2011," Tim Bennett, president of Winfrey's Harpo production company, wrote in a letter to affiliates. | "The sun will set on the Oprah show as its 25th season draws to a close on 9 September 2011," Tim Bennett, president of Winfrey's Harpo production company, wrote in a letter to affiliates. |
The Oprah Winfrey Show, currently syndicated in 145 countries, has transformed the star into a cultural phenomenon. | The Oprah Winfrey Show, currently syndicated in 145 countries, has transformed the star into a cultural phenomenon. |
The show's open atmosphere and frank conversation redefined the talk show genre and made Winfrey the wealthiest black woman in the world. | The show's open atmosphere and frank conversation redefined the talk show genre and made Winfrey the wealthiest black woman in the world. |
Winfrey's empire | Winfrey's empire |
Her reputation was clearly appreciated by the big-name stars who opened their souls on her show, from Michael Jackson to Tom Cruise - who famously jumped on the sofa to announce his love for his future Katie Holmes. | Her reputation was clearly appreciated by the big-name stars who opened their souls on her show, from Michael Jackson to Tom Cruise - who famously jumped on the sofa to announce his love for his future Katie Holmes. |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW First aired in 1986; so far run 24 seasonsBroadcast in 145 countriesFamous guests include Liberace, Tom Cruise, Michael Jackson | |
The introduction of Oprah's Book Club helped authors whose novels were selected become bestsellers overnight, and Winfrey's support for US President Barack Obama was seen as crucial to his presidential election campaign. | The introduction of Oprah's Book Club helped authors whose novels were selected become bestsellers overnight, and Winfrey's support for US President Barack Obama was seen as crucial to his presidential election campaign. |
Winfrey's empire also includes a magazine, books and, from 2011, a cable TV network. | Winfrey's empire also includes a magazine, books and, from 2011, a cable TV network. |
OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network is a joint venture between Winfrey and Discovery Communications and is set to replace the Discovery Health Channel in more than 70 million US homes. | OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network is a joint venture between Winfrey and Discovery Communications and is set to replace the Discovery Health Channel in more than 70 million US homes. |
Winfrey's support for Obama was seen as crucial to his presidential campaign. | |
Oprah is still the highest-rated US talk show with an average seven million daily viewers, but audiences are half what they were a decade ago. | Oprah is still the highest-rated US talk show with an average seven million daily viewers, but audiences are half what they were a decade ago. |
The end of the programme will be a blow to distributor CBS, which earns a percentage of licensing fees - estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars - from the more than 200 local ABC TV stations across the US that broadcast it. | The end of the programme will be a blow to distributor CBS, which earns a percentage of licensing fees - estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars - from the more than 200 local ABC TV stations across the US that broadcast it. |
Many stations also built their schedules around Winfrey's show, using it to promote other programmes while also delivering a large audience to their local news programming. | Many stations also built their schedules around Winfrey's show, using it to promote other programmes while also delivering a large audience to their local news programming. |