Recently in The Oprah Winfrey Network Category

BY DAREL JEVENS Staff Reporter

On her new cable channel, Oprah Winfrey is giving shows to two regulars on her daytime talker: the guy who helps you get things organized and the woman who helps you get it on.

The TV queen on Thursday unveiled the lineup for OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network, the cable channel she'll launch next year. It will replace Discovery Health.

Among its offerings:

• Dr. Laura Berman, the sex therapist and former Sun-Times columnist, hosting a Chicago-based talk show.

• De-clutter expert Peter Walsh cleaning up people's messy lives with his own team of specialists.

• "Excellent Adventure," following a celebrity and his or her best friend (hello, Gayle King!) as they share an unforgettable experience.

• A series of investigative reports by Lisa Ling, another "Oprah Winfrey Show" regular.

• A whole show profiling people Winfrey admires.

• A documentary series following former competitive surfer Izzy Paskowitz and his family.

There also will be movies and reruns of other channels' shows. A Web site, My Own.com, is up and running.

Oprah Winfrey isn't going anywhere just yet -- and might stick around daytime TV even after her contract is up in 2011.

Winfrey told Extra last night at a fundraiser for Essence Magazine's Susan Taylor that she'll definitely be fulfilling her contract, and hinted at the prospect of a new one.

"I'm a girl that keeps her word. I have a contract till 2011, so right now that's what I have until someone writes me another one....I'm going to fulfill my contractual obligations and fulfill them happily."

Rumors speculated last month whether Winfrey might be leaving daytime TV after Discovery CEO David Zaslav -- who is helping launch the "Oprah Winfrey Network" -- made remarks that Winfrey might bring her show to the new cable channel in the future.

"The expectation is that after [2011], her show will go off of ABC in syndication and she will come to OWN."

A Harpo spokeswoman at the time made clear that no decision about the show has been made at the time.

"While David Zaslav's comments are true that Oprah's current contract to produce 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' will expire in 2011, she has not made a final decision as to whether she will continue her show in syndication beyond that," said Lisa Halliday.

Yes, says Fortune.

According to editor-at-large Patricia Sellers, Susan Lyne -- the former CEO of Martha Stewart Omnimedia -- is in talks with Winfrey about taking on some sort of leadership role at Oprah's new OWN network.

It was rumored that Lyne (shown left) was being courted to run the new network. However, Winfrey announced yesterday that Robin Schwartz -- president of Regency Television -- would be heading up the new network.

Lyne is credited with boosting ratings during her stint at ABC for developing Desperate Housewives, which continues to be a thriving hit for the network.

How does Martha feel about all this? Stay tuned.

President of Regency Television -- Robin Schwartz -- has been named the president of Oprah Winfrey's new cable empire: The Oprah Winfrey Network, the talk show host announced today.

Set to launch next year, OWN takes over the now Discover Health Channel and will be based out of Los Angeles. Winfrey's currently produces her daily television show in Chicago, and her monthly "O" magazine in New York.

“I look forward to working with Robin to build a network that will celebrate the best in people,” said Oprah Winfrey, chairman of OWN, in a statement.

Programming for the network has yet to be announced, with speculation continuing over when reruns of Winfrey's popular talk show might surface on the channel.

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