Oprah Winfrey ends multiyear content deal with Apple TV+
Sources said Winfrey and Apple TV+ will continue to work together but on a project-by-project basis.
Oprah Winfrey and Apple TV+ are canceling their multiyear content contract established in 2018.
According to sources, Winfrey and Apple TV+ will continue to collaborate on a project-by-project basis.
The announcement comes just a few days after the premiere of the documentary Sidney, a collaboration between Winfrey and Apple TV+ about the life of Sidney Poitier. The documentary, directed by Reginald Hudlin, premiered on Netflix on Friday.
In addition, the pair will continue to work together on Oprah’s Book Club, which is available on Apple Books and OprahDaily.com
However, two of Winfrey’s most recent high-profile specials aired on CBS, including exclusive interviews with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Adele.
When the agreement was signed in 2018, sources said that it included movies, television, apps, books, and other content that could be easily delivered on Apple’s all-encompassing platform. The agreement was also nonexclusive, allowing Winfrey to remain as president of Discovery Communications’ cable network OWN.
Winfrey was claimed to have landed at Apple in a competitive environment, with other internet behemoths, like Netflix and Amazon, reportedly chasing a deal with her as well.
According to sources, Apple aggressively targeted Winfrey as part of a bigger attempt to attract a wide audience. Apple was attempting to make it at the time, clear to Hollywood that they were serious about their efforts in the content business and looking for marquee talent to partner with.
Apple has since won two consecutive best comedy series Emmys (for Ted Lasso) and has more than solidified its intentions with the industry.
As for Winfrey’s deal with Apple, it also has yielded the documentary series The Me You Can’t See, a partnership with Prince Harry focusing on mental health, as well as The Oprah Conversation, a series of discussions with newsmakers.
Puck News was the first to report that Winfrey and Apple TV+ were ending their deal.