Nov 20, 2009 8:55 pm US/Eastern
Oprah Signing Off After 25 Yrs, Show Ends 2011
Winfrey Discusses Decision On Friday's Episode
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Oprah Winfrey arrives at the screening of 'Precious: Based On The Novel 'PUSH' By Sapphire' during AFI FEST 2009 held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on November 1, 2009 in Hollywood.
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Oprah Winfrey was tearful Friday morning as she told her viewers she will be ending her daytime talk show in 2011.
"You, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measures," Winfrey said as her voice cracked.
Winfrey said the reasons she plans to end the show is only because it's the right time to do so.
"I love this show, this show has been my life, and I love it enough know when it's time to say goodbye," she said. "Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and it feels right in my spirit."
Previously, Tim Bennett, president of Harpo, Inc. announced that Winfrey's show will air its final episode on Sept. 9, 2011, marking her 25th season.
Winfrey did not address numerous reports that she will move to Los Angeles, or what will happen to Chicago-based Harpo Productions and its employees.
But a published report quotes Winfrey with less kind remarks. It says she told "insiders," "Why would anybody stay in Chicago?"
Winfrey is a native of Kosciusko, Miss., but has been based in Chicago since 1983, when she became host of a morning talk program on WLS-Channel 7.
"The Oprah Winfrey Show" is syndicated through CBS Distribution and Thursday night, CBS confirmed Winfrey would be out of the syndication business in two years.
There has been talk for some time that Winfrey would move Harpo Productions Inc., her production company, out of Chicago and possibly create her own network.
A Deadline.com report indicated that Winfrey's new show will be based in Los Angeles, and that Winfrey hopes to divest her Chicago real estate "as soon as possible."
Deadline.com quoted Winfrey as saying to "insiders:" "Why would anybody stay in Chicago? It's freezing here, and I have a mansion in Montecito that I haven't been able to enjoy."
The report said Winfrey has continued to live part-time in Chicago so she wouldn't have to pay high taxes as a California resident.
It has not been learned how the move will affect Winfrey's Harpo Productions here.
Bennett didn't give any specifics as to why she decided to end her historic run but he did thank Winfrey's TV partners and viewers.
Harpo Studios literally helped develop the West Loop over the past two decades and brought a lot of attention and business to the city. Hundreds of workers are employed by Harpo Studios in Chicago.
Earlier this month, Winfrey saod those workers should not worry about their jobs.
She also told CBS station WBBM-TV in Chicago that she does plan on launching her own Oprah Winfrey Network.
Winfrey started her broadcasting career in Nashville, Tenn., and Baltimore, Md., before relocating to Chicago in 1984 to host WLS-TV's morning talk show "A.M. Chicago."
That show was renamed "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 1985.
A year later, Winfrey established Harpo and her talk show went into syndication. In 1990, Winfrey opened Harpo Studios west of the Loop.
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