Oprah Winfrey along with XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. announced today that they have signed a $55 million deal to start a new radio channel starting in September.
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The channel which will be called “Oprah and Friends” will feature well-known personalities that have graced the Oprah show for a while. There will be original programming on a diversity of subjects like health, family, fitness and up to date news events.
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Some of the friends that are to be included are Bob Greene, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Gayle King, Marianne Williamson, Nate Berkus and Robin Smith.
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The show will also feature content from O, The Oprah Magazine, and an exclusive original weekly reality radio show with Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King.
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Hugh Panero, president and chief executive officer, XM Satellite Radio had this to say, “Oprah Winfrey is a prolific force in our culture whose unprecedented achievements in television, film, publishing and philanthropy will bring an amazing radio experience to the XM nation of subscribers. We are proud to welcome Oprah and her talented team to the XM family."
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Oprah’s thoughts were that, "Together with my friends, we look forward to creating programming that will entertain, inform and inspire our listening audience on XM."
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The channel will be broadcast from a new XM studio at Harpo Studios in Chicago and tap XM Radio's more than 6 million subscribers.
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The $55 million deal is a long way from the $600 million, five-year deal that competitor satellite radio broadcaster Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. has with morning shock jock Howard Stern. XM also has signed other big programming contracts, including an 11-year, $650 million deal for Major League Baseball.
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