The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

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Is Oprah over?

29.05.08

Just as Richard and Judy move over to digital television US publishers may be beginning to fear the worst about Oprah. The Times reports: "Average audiences for The Oprah Winfrey Show have fallen by 7 per cent this year and, since 2004, viewing figures have dropped from 9 million to not much above 7 million. A second series of her prime-time philanthropy show has been abandoned and the circulation of O, the Oprah magazine, has fallen by 10 per cent in three years."

"Other theories suggest that now she's 54, her audience is ageing with her, and that her endorsement of Barack Obama last October offended the white middle-class women who watch her show but also support Hillary Clinton. . . Naturally, her office responds that business is thriving - and her show's status as the No1 talk show for 471 consecutive weeks is indisputable. "

The Times

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