Big Sister Oprah: Winfrey gets a network

By Stone Martindale Jan 15, 2008, 18:05 GMT

Mary J. Blige and Oprah Winfrey - © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

Oprah Über Alles:  The chat show host and entrepreneur is now in charge of her own television network.

Discovery Communications and Winfrey announced a deal Tuesday where the Discovery Health network will be turned over to Winfrey next year, becoming OWN—the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Reuters reports that the cash-free transaction involved Winfrey turning over her Web site to Discovery, while the communications company makes her chairman of the network, which is currently seen in 68 million homes, said David Zaslav, Discovery Communications chief.

"The focus of the channel will be the focus of Oprah's brand, which is the educate and inspire people to live the best life they can," Zaslav said.

Some of Winfrey's stable of regular contributors could be expected to be part of the programming, he said. Winfrey's current talk show, as well as rights to use of reruns, is spoken for until the end of the season.

Besides hosting syndication's top-rated talk show, Winfrey has a production company - Harpo Productions - and puts out her own magazine, "O".