CHICAGO, and CULVER CITY, Calif., June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, MD, better known to millions as Dr. Oz, the renowned and popular surgeon, educator, and best-selling author who appears regularly on The Oprah Winfrey Show, will debut in first-run syndication next year with a series co-produced by Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and distributed by SPT, it was jointly announced today by Oprah Winfrey; Tim Bennett, president, Harpo Productions; and Steve Mosko, president, Sony Pictures Television.
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The series, DR. OZ (working title), will be available to stations across the country to launch in Fall 2009. Under the multi-year agreement, SPT will handle all distribution efforts for the show in the United States and Canada, advertiser sales and marketing, and co-produce the series with Harpo Productions.
Dr. Oz has earned a reputation as "America's Doctor" through regular appearances over the past three years as the health expert for The Oprah Winfrey Show and is the nation's preeminent and trusted expert on health and wellness. He is professor and vice-chairman of surgery at Columbia University as well as medical director of the Integrated Medicine Center and director of the Heart Institute at New York Presbyterian/Columbia Medical Center. As the co-author of the best-selling YOU series, Dr. Oz is also a publishing phenomenon. In addition to numerous appearances on network morning and evening news programs, Dr. Oz is the host of the "The Dr. Oz Show" on XM Satellite Radio's Oprah & Friends channel, giving viewers crucial information on health issues and sparking in-depth conversations about the essentials to living longer, more vibrant lives. He was recently named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME magazine.
Said Oprah Winfrey, "This is a show I believe in. Judging by the response from our viewers, Dr. Oz has already demonstrated he is a valued and trusted medical expert who has created a deep connection with our audience."
"We are looking forward to partnering with Sony Pictures Television on this project," said Tim Bennett, President, Harpo Productions. "Of all the first-rate potential partners we spoke with, we felt that Sony was the best-positioned to co-produce and distribute the DR. OZ show."
"We are thrilled to be working with Oprah, Dr. Oz and everyone at Harpo on this amazing project," said Steve Mosko, president, Sony Pictures Television. "It's a perfect marriage of independent, entrepreneurial companies and a wonderful opportunity for us to work with such tremendously talented people."
"Medicine has always been my calling. This show allows me to share the same passion I bring to my patients with millions of viewers every day. We will empower the audience to live more fully as they take control of their health ... and their bodies. I am deeply appreciative to Oprah and to our great partner Sony for this opportunity," said Dr. Oz.
Harpo Productions, Inc. produces the number-one-rated, award-winning The Oprah Winfrey Show; creates and develops original TV programming for primetime, syndication and cable television; and operates Oprah.com (http://www.oprah.com/), a premier lifestyle website. Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine and quarterly O at Home publications. Harpo Films, Inc. produces feature films as well as top-rated telefilms under the "Oprah Winfrey Presents" banner. Harpo Radio, Inc. produces Oprah & Friends (Channel 156) on XM Satellite Radio. Harpo, Inc. has also recently partnered with Discovery Communications to launch a new cable network, The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) in 2009.
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment for network and cable television, as well as first-run and off-network series for syndication. With more than 25 programs on the air, SPT boasts a program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off- network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. SPT also owns one-half of cable channel GSN and is a partner in FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service. Sony Pictures Television oversees all of Sony Pictures Entertainment's (SPE) domestic digital distribution efforts across all electronically delivered platforms, including the internet and mobile. Sony Pictures Television, advertiser sales, is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States, for Sony BMG and for iN DEMAND's high-definition channel Mojo and the Tennis Channel, and is part owner of national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT (http://www.sonypicturestelevision.com/) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.
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