By Ending Show, Oprah Bets Big on Cable

Discovery Channel to media mogul: 'Move it or lose it'

(NEWSER) - The long-awaited launch of Oprah's cable network is set for early 2011, and her syndicated talk show will move to the new Oprah Winfrey Network—and from Chicago to Los Angeles. The switch from Discovery Health Channel to OWN was originally set for mid-2009, and Discovery threatened to rescind the offer, saying it wanted her to "move it or lose it," Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Oprah is getting ready to say goodbye to ABC and take her legendary talk show to her OWN cable network, the New York Post reports. The CEO of Discovery Communications, which is teaming up with Winfrey to create OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network) says he expects Winfrey’s eponymous show to cease airing via syndication when her current deal ends in September 2011. More»

It will be up against plenty of competition, high channel number

(NEWSER) - The Oprah Winfrey Network is ready to launch January 1, following three years of planning and delays. It will face competition from at least 12 other networks targeting the same female audience, but supporters say it stands out from the rest thanks to, well, Oprah. The Los Angeles Times looks at the network's challenges, most notably that Oprah remains primarily focused on winding down her TV talk show. And that probably won't change until she tapes her last episode in May. More»

Winfrey tells fans 25 seasons the 'perfect number' to end on

(NEWSER) - Oprah Winfrey fought back tears today as she officially announced the end of her show, telling the audience the decision came from the heart. “You may hear speculation in the press about why I am making this decision,” she said. “Here is the real reason: I love this show. … I love it enough to know when it’s time to say goodbye.” More»

The golden age of TV may have died this year

(NEWSER) - Today's golden age of TV lost a little shine this year, Heather Havrilesky writes on Salon. Twelve quick months gobbled up all of the momentum and promise from years past, leaving “a haze of crappy, unoriginal new programming, lackluster sophomore shows, flaccid sitcoms and pointless cable comedies.” Old standbys like Heroes and Weeds wilted, while rookies like My Own Worst Enemy and Easy Money collapsed. More»