Oprah to star in new show on OWN network

NEW YORK, April 8 (UPI) -- U.S. media mogul Oprah Winfrey says she will star in a new lifestyle series on her upcoming OWN network.

Winfrey, who plans to wrap her syndicated "Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2011 after 25 seasons to focus on the establishment of OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, announced Thursday her plans to headline a program called "Oprah's Next Chapter" on OWN.

"After 25 years and 28,000 guests, Oprah is saying goodbye to 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' but not goodbye to what she loves to do," OWN said in a news release. "In 'Oprah's Next Chapter,' she'll have more riveting conversations with the people we all want to hear from, in some very unexpected places. Oprah's getting untethered from the chairs, opening up her world and taking you with her. From the Taj Mahal to her beloved oak tree, the Great Wall to her own teahouse, it's a whole new kind of Oprah show. If she can dream it, she'll do it! This one-hour regular series is produced by Harpo Studios."

In talking to members of the advertising and media communities at New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center Thursday, Winfrey discussed the five new shows joining the 10 previously announced original series coming to OWN, starting in 2011. In addition to "Chapter," the OWN lineup also includes programs called "Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind," "Your Own Show: Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star," "Gayle King Live!" and "Why Not? with Shania Twain."

"My vision for OWN is to create a network that inspires our viewers and makes them want to be who they are on their best day," Winfrey said.

"We want to provide our audience with the tools to awaken, become more alive, and connect to what really matters to them in a fun, engaging, and entertaining way," added Christina Norman, chief executive officer of OWN.