Silver Spring, Md. - Talk show diva Oprah Winfrey is teaming with Discovery Communications (NASD: DISCA) to create "OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network," a multi-platform venture scheduled to debut in 2009 in more than 70 million homes. The network will replace the Discovery Health channel in cable lineups, and include a Web component under the Oprah.com domain.

"There is no stronger voice than Oprah Winfrey in engaging, motivating and connecting people to live healthier lives," said David Zaslav, the president and CEO of Discovery.

"Having Oprah as chairman and creative leader makes OWN a very unique property in a crowded media landscape."

The venture will be jointly owned by Discovery and Oprah's production company, HARPO. Each company will own a 50% stake.

OWN could eventually become home to Oprah's mega-popular TV show, once its syndication contract expires in 2011.

Since its launch in 1999, Discovery Health has drawn only about 20% of the total ratings for Discovery's core networks, the Discovery Channel and TLC.

Related Links:
http://corporate.discovery.com/news/press/08q1/announcement_0115.html

http://www.oprah.com