Oprah to host show on her new network

By Mary Ellen Podmolik
Posted Aug. 13, 2010 at 2:42 p.m.

Oprah Winfrey has agreed to boost her on-air commitment to The Oprah Winfrey Network by hosting or starring in a show on the network, according to a Securities and Exchange filing made by Discovery Communications Inc. on Friday.

As part of the amended joint-venture agreement, Discovery agreed to increase by 89 percent, to $189 million, its funding commitment to Winfrey’s OWN network.

The extra funding could be in the form of a revolving loan from Discovery or debt financing from a third-party lender. The joint venture also has the right to pursue distribution of OWN in the United Kingdom and Canada.

The network, the SEC filing said, is scheduled to launch on or before Jan. 1.

A spokeswoman for OWN declined to specify whether the show would be produced in Chicago or elsewhere.

Last week in an earnings conference call, Discovery executives said the company had already invested $75 million of its $100 million budget earmarked for the launch of Winfrey’s network, originally scheduled in 2009, and then in mid-2010.

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23 comments:

  1. flossmore Aug. 13, 2010 at 2:35 pm

    Pleeese…..if we ever hear of this woman again, it will be too soon! GO away already.

  2. Tell the Truth Aug. 13, 2010 at 3:12 pm

    Flossmore, let the jealousy go. It’s unbecoming.

  3. TV-Guy Aug. 13, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    Did you really think she wanted out of TV? No! She wanted out of Chicago. Bye!

  4. Carelvys Aug. 13, 2010 at 3:21 pm

    So, the queen isn’t quite ready to get off the throne yet (or forever). Anybody REALLY surprised? Move over, lady; your 15 minutes of fame are WAY over.

  5. Trixxi Aug. 13, 2010 at 3:29 pm

    You people are such haters.

  6. ihateillini Aug. 13, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    Why is that people who don’t worship this woman are either haters, racists or jealous? Many people don’t like those who are egotistical and self-absorbed, regardless of skin color.

  7. bob Aug. 13, 2010 at 3:49 pm

    Opra who,tired of hearing about her,rather watch grass grow then her it is more interesting

  8. hatethehaters Aug. 13, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    Why is that the only people who post on these comment boards are so hateful? If you don’t like something, don’t watch it! Millions of people around the world love and respect Oprah. Oprah has done so much for so many people and her message is about love and understanding. What is your message about? Hate and judgement?

  9. ihateillini Aug. 13, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    Her message is not about love and respect. Her image is about love and respect and she uses it to continue to add to her fortune. Remember that almost all of her giveaways are not hers. The companies give away the products on her show. she doesn’t pay for them and then give them away.

  10. craig Aug. 13, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    Yeah, who needs a high profile woman who employs thousands of people? Who needs the tourist attaction that her show has become? She’s just a self made billionaire that deserves no respect. We in Chicago and even the world would be better off without her. Right? Belive me haters, we know who you are and what you are. Maybe in your next life you can achieve somtething as well and be hated for it.

  11. mabeno Aug. 13, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    But in the end, people benefit from the giveaways or learn something from guests on her show. I haven’t watched her show in years, but she isn’t doing anything unusual for television. It’s a business. Why do companies pay a lot of money to have their logo associated with sporting events? Do people badmouth the PGA (or other sports leagues) because a lot of money comes in from sponsors to pay prize money and fund events?

    Some folks should just admit they don’t like her and move on. I find her over the top in many ways, but she has built herself a successful business empire and has improved her station in life from rather humble beginnings.

  12. dan Aug. 13, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    Oprah is the BEST! Much admiration and respect for her and don’t appreciate the negativity of folks on the above comments.

  13. Greg B Aug. 13, 2010 at 4:53 pm

    As long as she doesn’t do the Brett Favre retiring/un-retiring/retiring/maybe coming back routine for the next 5 years… I can live with this.

  14. Terri Kilpatrick Aug. 13, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    So, Oprah agreed to terms with her own network about starring in her own talk show. Does the ravenous, gluttonous, insatiable desire for attention ever end with this monster?

  15. gposner Aug. 13, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    There are alot of Oprah Winfreys out there. The networks annointed this one. In effect…she won the lottery. That said, she’s done a fairly respectible job through the years but her message alas has gotten a bit tired of late. I’m still waiting for a refund for “The Color Purple.”

  16. bet Aug. 13, 2010 at 6:17 pm

    will obama be her first guest along with her side-kick gayle

  17. Todd Aug. 13, 2010 at 7:54 pm

    “Grrr. I hate Oprah! Why can’t this stuck-up woman agree with my politics like Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter do? I wish she’d go away forever! Part of the glory of America is only agreeing with right wingers, and since she supports Captain No Birth Certificate fake president, she’s clearly a joke and worthy of my hate!”

    OK, so no right-wing loony has posted this yet, but if you read between the lines, this is exactly what they’re saying.

    Republican rule #1: dissent is only patriotic when it’s against the Left.

    What sad, small, people.

  18. Mritz Fomdale Aug. 13, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    Clearly, Oprah is leaving Chicago and network television due to George W. Bush. The sooner we indict Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld and McCain and Palin for the loss of Oprah, the Gulf oil spill, the botched cleanup, the loss of the Chicago 2016 Olympics, the continued job losses, the fact that no Democrat voted for Senate Bill 190 in 2005, and the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act, the better. These 5 Texans were last seen crawling across the boarder from TX into Mexico where they know they won’t be extradited to Chicago for these War Crimes.

  19. IINOYFB2 Aug. 13, 2010 at 10:52 pm

    Maybe it could be the Orka and Gail show. Two lezzies gettin it on.
    Will it be fatty Orka or the other Orka? Who will “top”? Stay tune for the pay-per-view previews…

    Orka Windbag – go away, just please go away!!!

  20. captinjoe Aug. 14, 2010 at 8:11 a.m.

    I cannot wait!!!!!!!…. TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL!!!!!!!!!!!! WHEN IS THIS THING GOING TO GO AWAY??????????????????? WORSE THAN A BAD COLD!

  21. captinjoe Aug. 14, 2010 at 8:14 a.m.

    I Just thought of something???? Maybe she can do another new show with BARRY!!!!! HE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT IN 2012!!!! Only if Michelle by Belle will ALLOWED IT!!!!!! We know how much OTC and Michell just LOVE each other!!! LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!1 SEEING THESE TWO FIGHT OVER THEIR MAN!!!!!

  22. libby Aug. 15, 2010 at 1:58 a.m.

    Alas, it is so very sad that all you pathetic people just can’t give someone a congrats on their achievments. You who sit and do nothing with your life except Bit.h and complain about everyone else who works their as. off.

    How many people have you helped, how many schools have you built, how many people do you employ?

    I thought so!
    Zero!!

  23. saffrin Aug. 16, 2010 at 10:08 a.m.

    …been an oprah fan on and off and i cannot believe the hatred that is spewing from people….ow. is a very spiritual woman and those who hate her have not a thread of spirituality. She has done a particularly fine job in alerting parents about dangers to children as well as conveying attittudes that are growth-positive. And i am so sick and tired of hearing o and gail jokes or accusations about their relationship. Are chicagoans feeling O. did not bow to enough to them or make their city The best on this earth? Or is this just racial jealousy all over again? Hey chicagoans, clean up your own backyards before you spew nonsense, hearsay and gossip about o or her friends.