ABC says Joy Behar leaving 'The View' after 16 years

NEW YORK, March 7 (UPI) -- ABC has confirmed reports Joy Behar, an original cast member of "The View," is leaving after 16 years on the daytime chat show in New York.

"Joy Behar has been instrumental in the success of The View from the very beginning. We wish her all the best in this next chapter, and are thrilled that we have her for the remainder of the season," the network said in a statement to Deadline Thursday.

Behar notified ABC she is not interested in renewing her contract, which ends in August, because she has other projects she would like to pursue, in particular a new talk show of her own, Deadline said.

Behar, 70, is one of five co-hosts currently on "The View." Barbara Walters, 83, Whoopi Goldberg, 57, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, 35, and Sherri Shepherd, 45, are the other panelists.