Oprah, Discovery Team For Multi-Platform Network

Health and wellness Web destinations can expect some serious competition in the second half of 2009, when Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications plan to debut a new media co-venture.

"OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network," will launch as a multi-platform media network on what is presently the Discovery Health Channel and Oprah.com.

"I always felt my show was just the beginning of what the future could hold," Oprah Winfrey said in a statement on Tuesday. "For me, the launch of 'The Oprah Winfrey Network' is the evolution of the work I've been doing on television all these years."

OWN will attempt to target a swath of demographics, including women, men and their families "with a purpose and a passion: to celebrate life, to inspire and entertain, empowering viewers around the world to live their best lives," according to a Discovery Communications spokeswoman.

Winfrey will have full editorial control over the joint venture and will be responsible for OWN's programming, branding and creative vision. Exactly what that involves has yet to be determined.

The Discovery Health cable channel currently reaches some 70 million homes, while Oprah.com records over 6 million unique visitors and 80 million page-views each month.

"Our goals are to improve the quality of the networks while expanding the reach and success of our web presence," said David Zaslav, president and CEO of Discovery Communications. "This venture does both."

Winfrey will serve as Chairman of The Oprah Winfrey Network, LLC, and the venture will be 50/50 owned by Discovery and Harpo. This is a cashless transaction, and The Oprah Winfrey Network, LLC will be an independent company.

Discovery Communications will handle distribution, origination and other operational requirements. Both organizations will contribute advertising sales services to the venture.

The search for OWN's CEO to oversee day-to-day venture operations will begin immediately, according to a Discovery spokeswoman.

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