• Reuters, Monday, June 16, 2008 10:30 AM

Oprah Winfrey has chosen Sony Pictures TV to distribute her upcoming talk show hosted by heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz. The move means she will not be expanding her relationship with CBS Television Distribution, which distributes her own daytime talker as well as its spinoffs.

There had been a fierce competition among distributors over which would nab rights to distribute the Oz show. Winfrey's company Harpo chose to meet with all the major distributors, including CBS, about the Oz project, which is similar to the strategy it took when pitching "Dr. Phil.

Under the multiyear agreement, Sony will co-produce "Dr. Oz" with Harpo, targeted to launch in fall 2009. Sony will also handle advertiser sales and marketing.

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