Oprah Winfrey set to create her 'OWN' cable network

Washington, Jan 16 : Oprah Winfrey is all set to add a US cable network to her ever-expanding media empire.

The talk show queen is teaming up with Discovery Networks to launch OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.

Though the ownership will be split evenly between the two parties, Oprah will control the channel's editorial content as well its Web site, and will also serve as chairman of the network.

The new channel will debut in 2009 in more than 70 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.

"Fifteen years ago, I wrote in my journal that one day I would create a television network, as I always felt my show was just the beginning of what the future could hold," Variety quoted Winfrey, as saying.

"For me, the launch of 'The Oprah Winfrey Network' is the evolution of the work I've been doing on television all these years and a natural extension of my show," she added.

OWN will focus more on the lifestyle, self-help, entertainment and spiritual themes Winfrey excavates on her daily show.

"We'll deal with topics such as money, health and relationships. I want to create a niche, a place where people can go to feel better about their lives," she said.

David Zaslav, president and chief executive of Discovery Communications, said the deal furthers the company's goals "to improve the quality of the networks while expanding the reach and success of our web presence."

This is not the first time that Winfrey has dabbled in cable ownership.

The TV mogul, whose Harpo Productions will own half of the new channel, was an investor in the women-oriented Oxygen Network, which was sold last year to NBC Universal for 925 million dollars.

ANI