Winfrey choice helping Discovery Channel

ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The Discovery Channel is reaping major benefits from U.S. TV star Oprah Winfrey's decision to focus on a new cable channel, experts said.

Douglas Gomery, a media economist at the University of Maryland, College Park, said expectations regarding the cable channel and Maryland-based Discovery Communications increased after Winfrey confirmed she would end "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2011, The Baltimore Sun said Sunday.

"In one swoop, this jumps Discovery and, by extension, cable up to another league," Gomery said.

"Discovery appears to be the 'winner' in this announcement," the J.P. Morgan financial group said in its analysis of the business implications from Winfrey's decision.

Discovery Communications President David Zaslav said his company was pleased to serve as a partner with Winfrey in her attempts to create the Oprah Winfrey Network.

"Discovery Communications has a tremendous partner in Oprah, and we look forward to bringing her and her creative vision, programming and unique voice to approximately 80 million homes on OWN, as well as online through the award-winning Oprah.com," Zaslav said.