http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20321535,00.html

Thursday November 19, 2009 07:00 PM EST

Oprah Winfrey Ending Talk Show in 2011

The queen of daytime talk shows, Oprah Winfrey, plans to end her highly rated The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2011, her spokesperson said Thursday.

"The sun will set on the Oprah Show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011," the spokeswoman tells WABC, the ABC affiliate in New York.

Winfrey plans to make the announcement on her show Friday. The host, whose current program reaches about 7 million viewers a day, is preparing to start her own cable channel.

It has been widely rumored that she would bring her program to OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, which is a joint venture with Discovery Communications.

"We have the greatest respect for Oprah and wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors," CBS TV Distribution, which distributes the show, says in a statement. "We know that anything she turns her hand to will be a great success. We look forward to working with her for the next several years and hopefully afterwards as well."

Oops, please move to the off-topic forum, since this probably really belongs there...

As someone who grew up in Chicago and now lives in the suburbs, I'm sorry to hear this news. Oprah is like God in Chicago. I know that all things must come to an end but this is sad. I wish Oprah all the best in her new endeavors.

As someone who grew up in Chicago and now lives in the suburbs, I'm sorry to hear this news. Oprah is like God in Chicago. I know that all things must come to an end but this is sad. I wish Oprah all the best in her new endeavors.

Yeah, Oprah airs at 10AM in Chicago and then is replayed like four times a day.

I wonder what CBS/Paramount's plans are now that she's leaving the building? And this has to be exciting for other production companies, who will try to convince affiliates that their show should be placed in Oprah's old timeslot.

The 4PM slot is now available for a brand new soap opera!