So long, “Oprah” — in 2011, that is. Oprah Winfrey’s eponymous show went national in 1986, and, on Thursday, the talk show host and international media mogul gave notice when she’ll call it a wrap: Sept. 9, 2011, just a day over 25 years since her daytime reign began. –KA

Variety:

Winfrey broke the news to staffers at her Chicago-based Harpo production company on Thursday. She’ll officially announce her exit on Friday.

Whether or not that means Winfrey will launch a new talker on her burgeoning cable partnership with Discovery, OWN, remains to be announced–but Winfrey is expected to have a major presence on the cabler.

It’s no secret Discovery topper David Zaslav would like to see the host move her show to the cable channel, which is expected to launch in January 2011.

[…] Rumors of Winfrey’s departure had been heavy over the last few weeks, after key “Oprah Winfrey Show” staffer Lisa Erspamer, who had been co-executive producer of the syndie strip since 2006, was tapped as Chief Creative Officer of OWN.

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