Oprah Winfrey, arguably the most powerful woman in entertainment (if not the world in general), is preparing to pack her luxurious bags. She's announced that in 2011, after a quarter-century of favorite things and heartfelt interviews, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will be no more. The last program is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2011. One can only imagine who might be her guests.

In syndication across the country, Oprah's eponymous program is the top-rated U.S. daytime show (take that, Days of Our Lives!), with an average viewership of 7.1 million this year.

While not entirely unexpected, the news is likely a bit of a blow to CBS Corporation (CBS), as its CBS Television Distribution arm syndicates the program. Additionally, Walt Disney (DIS) might feel the sting of an Oprah departure as Disney-owned ABC is the primary network that airs the show. And will it impact O, Oprah's monthly magazine published by the Heart Corporation? To say nothing of all of the manic women in the audience who long for a chance at one of Oprah's favorite things.

Continue reading Oprah to pull the plug in 2011

Oprah to pull the plug in 2011 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) hasn't been doing as well as its colleague Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI). Indeed, when it comes to the numbers, Activision, which is responsible for franchise hits Guitar Hero and Call of Duty, has its competitor beat.

But EA recently released an exercise system for the Nintendo (OTC: NTDOY) Wii that was highlighted at CNBC.com. The piece mentions the enormous marketing presence that is supporting EA Sports Active. You get a couple accessories with the software: a leg strap that is used like a controller to interact with the screen, and a resistance band to increase the effectiveness of the workout. Oprah Winfrey's trainer apparently assisted EA with the design.

Continue reading Can Electronic Arts capitalize on the Wii Fit craze?

Can Electronic Arts capitalize on the Wii Fit craze? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

At a mere $276 million, celebrity talk-show host and entertainment billionaire Oprah Winfrey could afford to buy Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC), which closed Tuesday at $5.91 per share and keeps on climbing to over $6.50 a share in morning trading. The story alone and the associated publicity would be worth at least that. Furthermore, she could at least make an offer and demand a meeting with the Federal Reserve Board to discuss the issue.

If her offer was rejected, she would still be able to generate millions of dollars of publicity and perhaps she might want to acquire the asset, in particular if the Fed is going to protect the acquirer from potential losses. She could really become an international mogul, the likes of which has not been seen. We all know that Oprah wants to do good. She is so giving, this could be the ultimate.

I could just see the headlines: Oprah Winfrey takes on JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) and the Federal Reserve to rescue John Q. Public.

Continue reading Bear Stearns going too cheap, Oprah Winfrey should buy it

Bear Stearns going too cheap, Oprah Winfrey should buy it originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The talk show queen is getting into the business of enlightenment, offering a 10-week Web seminar with self-help guru Eckhart Tolle, author of "A New Earth," an amalgam of Buddhist, Christian and Islamic influences, according to USA Today. The book also happens to be the latest pick of Oprah's Book Club.

Last night's first webcast was one of the largest events in the history of the internet, attracting more than 500,000 people. "Unfortunately, some of our users experienced delays in viewing the webcast," according to a statement from Oprah's Harpo Productions. "We are working to identify the specific causes for the problems experienced and will work diligently to rectify them."

Seekers of enlightenment be forewarned, the path outlined by "A New Earth" isn't an easy one.

Continue reading Oprah's enlightenment quest hits a technological snag

Oprah's enlightenment quest hits a technological snag originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Oprah Winfrey is teaming up with Discovery Communications to create a new network, cleverly titled OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network.

The network will not carry her trademark Oprah Winfrey Show to start, but since Ms. Winfrey has the option of ending her deal for the show with the networks in 2010 and 2011, she could move the show there then.

Winfrey told reporters that "Eventually that will happen, we hope". Discovery will own half of the network, and Winfrey's production company will own the other half.

Oprah Winfrey moving to her own cable network would, if it does happen, send shock waves through the television industry and create additional problems for the already beleaguered networks. Similar to Radiohead's decision to forgo the major labels and release their album on their own, such a move would send a clear message to the networks: Cable is ubiquitous enough that top stars don't need you: We can do it ourselves and keep a bigger chunk of the money.

It's too soon to know what will happen. The new network could flop, but given Oprah's popularity, I seriously doubt that will happen.

Oprah Winfrey to get her own network! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rural groups lobby for Sirius/XM merger originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's best chance at public redemption lies with Oprah Winfrey. At least that's the conclusion of Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp, who makes a convincing argument that "now that pop culture dictates news judgment, it's only appropriate that a pop culture diva quite possibly holds the key to Michael Vick's NFL future."

Vick should take Sharp's advice. If Vick goes on Oprah, his handlers would no doubt encourage him to cry, talk about "finding Jesus" and encourage young people to make smart decisions. Unfortunately for Vick, the road to redemption starts with the talk show queen. Vick will have to spend the next few months apologizing until the American public is sick of seeing his face.

The question for Vick's handlers is where to go after Oprah.

Will he try to reach NFL fans through Walt Disney Co.'s (NYSE: DIS) ESPN cable network or News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) Fox?

What about the morning shows? You can bet that ABC, General Electric Co.'s (NYSE: GE) NBC and CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) would kill to land an interview with the disgraced athlete. "Dateline" and "60 Minutes" are probably working on stories about the evils of dog fighting. The story also continues to be the gift that keeps on giving for Time Warner Inc.'s (NYSE: TWX) CNN, Fox News channel, and MSNBC.

But I am not sure that all of the apologizing in the world can save Vick's NFL career. People understand that young, rich athletes misbehave and occasionally break the law. But Vick's behavior was so heinous that it defies explanation.

Can Oprah Winfrey redeem Michael Vick? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Oprah enters the wild world of brick-and-mortar retail originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Random House offers refund for "A Million Little Pieces" originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 May 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Senator Barack Obama received a huge endorsement to his campaign last week from Oprah Winfrey. If you question the power of her endorsement, I would point out that she recently convinced millions of Americans to read As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. Only parting the Red Sea would have been a greater miracle.

The advantages to Obama of having Oprah on his side are wide-ranging, and start with the good will his brand gains by its association with hers. In a recent Celebrity Trust Index compiled by Davie-Brown Talent, Oprah and Tom Hanks were named as the most trustworthy celebrities. And the most trend-setting? Oprah, again. To people impressed with wealth, her $1.3 billion will speak volumes.

Add this extraordinary good will to her market penetration, and Obama couldn't ask for a better supporter. Oprah is best known for her daily talk show, but she also hosts the daily Oprah & Friends radio show on XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: XMSR), publishes O, the Oprah Magazine, and works the Internet through Oprah.com.

Her presence should benefit Obama several ways. It will certainly help with fund raising, both from Oprah's audience and those bandwagon riders who see her endorsement as legitimizing his prospects.

Obama has, surprisingly, received lukewarm support from the African-American community, and this endorsement should elevate his stature in that demographic. Traditionally, Democrats benefit from large vote turnout, and he could benefit if Oprah uses her bully pulpit to inspire a strong get-out-the-vote movement.

Best of all, by announcing for Obama, Oprah has eliminated Obama's greatest threat as a potential candidate: Oprah herself. What a candidate she would be!

Oprah supports Obama for President originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 May 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Businesswomen I envy: it's not always their money

Businesswomen I envy: it's not always their money originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is written as part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst 2006. If you feel Oprah Winfrey makes too much money, cast your vote.

Multiple Emmy Award-winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest-rated talk show in television history, Oprah Winfrey is also an Academy Award-nominated actress and a magazine publisher. Winfrey co-founded the women's cable television network, Oxygen, and is also the president of Harpo Productions.

Forbes recently estimated Winfrey's wealth at $1.5 billion, and has referred to her as the world's only black billionaire. She currently lives on a 42-acre ocean and mountain view estate in Montecito, California, and also has an apartment in Chicago, an estate on Fisher Island off the coast of Miami, a ski house in Telluride, Colorado, and property on Maui, Hawaii. Winfrey was called "arguably the world's most powerful woman" by CNN, and in 2003 she edged out both Superman and Elvis Presley to be named the greatest pop-culture icon of all time by VH1.

Continue reading Best & Worst: Oprah Winfrey too powerful, too rich?

Best & Worst: Oprah Winfrey too powerful, too rich? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Oprah's 'Pay it Forward' show costly for audience: charity doesn't begin on TV originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Nov 2006 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Will you 'pay it forward' with Oprah or rely on good ol' consumption? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

XM Radio brings Oprah on board originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Sep 2006 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It remains to be seen how effective the Harpo machine will be in drawing subscribers to XM. Oprah seems to turn everything she touches into gold but, I'm just hoping, for the sake of my own santiy and that of the other 6.89 million XM subscribers, that she doesn't decide to bring Dr. Phil with her.

XMSR gains 398k subscribers in Q2 '06 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Jul 2006 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.