Oprah ending show

CHICAGO, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Oprah Winfrey, whose eponymous talk show has been a mainstay of U.S. television for more than two decades, says she's ending the program.

Winfrey's company -- Harpo (Oprah spelled backward) -- said "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will end with its Sept. 9, 2011, episode. That would mark the end of the 25th season of "Oprah."

The very successful syndicated talk show is seen on 214 stations.

"After much prayer and months of careful thought, I've decided next season, season 25, will be the last season of the 'Oprah Winfrey Show,'" she said Friday, adding she was explaining her decision now to avert rampant speculation on the reasons behind the decision.

"I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it is time to say goodbye.

"Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and feels right in my spirit. It is the exact right time."

Winfrey is still expected to be a TV-set presence, however, on OWN -- the Oprah Winfrey Network. And there's also her print outlet "O, The Oprah Magazine," which monthly features Winfrey on the cover.

Winfrey's program and media empire allowed her to build a $2.7 billion fortune and released good will worth more than that. And a mere word from Winfrey can make careers -- the addition of a title to the Oprah Book Club reading list sent the book rocketing up best-seller lists.

She also launched the careers of others, notably Dr. Phil McGraw, Rachael Ray and Dr. Mehmet Oz, all of whom have gone on to successful programs of their own.