Oprah leaves the networks for cable

OPRAH Winfrey announced she will end her daytime talk show in 2011. Gasping fans took comfort in knowing the sofa is moving — Winfrey is not retiring.

The cosmically entrepreneurial Winfrey will leave CBS in the 25th year of her show. She is expected to reappear — debut — on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Of course, her OWN cable company.

Circumstances in play transcend Winfrey. More and more viewers are watching less and less of network television. Even the redoubtable Winfrey saw her audience shrink on network television. Too many choices too many other places.

Still, she has legions of devoted fans, and she is the creator and producer behind an array of media triumphs, from selling books to giving the world TV chef Rachael Ray. Winfrey has involved herself in and lent her name to magazine publishing, satellite radio, TV broadcasting and movies.

Winfrey launched Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, and the next, new talent is a regular guest, designer Nate Berkus, who will be featured in a new syndicated production.

The multitalented Winfrey has her own rags-to-super-riches story that connects with viewers and readers. Her ability to shape and cater to popular tastes is another facet of her success. The question is whether the same book-buying, magazine-skimming audience will follow her to cable.

Audience loyalties are tougher to sustain and track through demographic changes and ever fractionalizing choices.

Another star in a much smaller galaxy told The New York Times he will leave public television but keep his options open. Bill Moyers will end his Friday-night public-affairs show "Bill Moyers Journal" next spring. Another show originally identified with Moyers, "Now," will also end in April 2010.

Oprah does a familiar format better than most. Moyers and kindred spirits at PBS present a high-quality and in-depth journalism that is not easily replaced.

Winfrey's formidable talent and capacities came up against currents of change even she could not resist.