Oprah & Friends
Encyclopedia
Oprah Radio is a talk radio channel programmed by Harpo Productions
' radio division, and is signed exclusively for XM Satellite Radio
. Oprah Radio includes regular programming on topics such as current events, self improvement, health, nutrition, fitness and home. Friends and contributors include: Gayle King
, Dr. Robin Smith, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Marianne Williamson
, Bob Greene
, and Nate Berkus
. On July 17, 2006, a preview loop of the channel began to air. The channel officially launched on September 25, 2006.
It was announced in June 2006 that former Clear Channel Communications
regional VP John Gehron will act as general manager for Harpo Radio, Inc. On July 20, Laurie Cantillo was appointed program director of Harpo Radio. Cantillo had program director experience at stations including KFYI
, KTAR
, and KGME
. A week later, more staff was hired for the channel, including Corny Koehl (director of development), John St. Augustine, Katherine Kelly and Rita Coburn Whack (producers).
In September 2007, Oprah and Friends was added to the DirecTV
lineup on channel 807. Following the Sirius / XM merger, Oprah & Friends was added to Sirius on September 30, 2008 as part of its "Best of XM" package and broadcast on channel 195 (it moved to channel 204 on May 4, 2011). On November 12, 2008, Oprah and Friends was removed from the DirecTV lineup.
In November 2008, John Gehron and Laurie Cantillo exited their positions at Oprah & Friends. Corny Koehl was named Executive Producer of the channel in charge of the creative side and Katherine Kelly was named Operations Manager handling the day to day workings of the channel.
On March 4, 2009, Oprah and Friends was renamed and rebranded as Oprah Radio.
Harpo Productions
Harpo Productions, Inc. is an incorporated US-based multimedia production company founded by Oprah Winfrey . It also includes Harpo Films & Harpo Radio, Inc....
' radio division, and is signed exclusively for XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
. Oprah Radio includes regular programming on topics such as current events, self improvement, health, nutrition, fitness and home. Friends and contributors include: Gayle King
Gayle King
Gayle King is editor-at-large for O, The Oprah Magazine and the best friend of Oprah Winfrey. She has previously worked as a television news anchor and talk show host...
, Dr. Robin Smith, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Marianne Williamson
Marianne Williamson
Marianne Williamson is a spiritual activist, author, lecturer and founder of The Peace Alliance, a grass roots campaign supporting legislation currently before Congress to establish a United States Department of Peace. She is also the founder of Project Angel Food, a meals-on-wheels program that...
, Bob Greene
Bob Greene (fitness guru)
Bob Greene is an American exercise physiologist and certified personal trainer specializing in fitness, metabolism, and weight loss. Greene is the creator of Best Life, a diet and fitness plan, and Best Life Foods, which sells a line of butter substitutes.Born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, he is a...
, and Nate Berkus
Nate Berkus
Nathan Jay "Nate" Berkus is an American interior designer and daytime television host. He runs the Chicago interior design firm Nate Berkus Associates and has been a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, offering design advice to viewers. May 25, 2010, was his last day on The Oprah Winfrey Show...
. On July 17, 2006, a preview loop of the channel began to air. The channel officially launched on September 25, 2006.
It was announced in June 2006 that former Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
regional VP John Gehron will act as general manager for Harpo Radio, Inc. On July 20, Laurie Cantillo was appointed program director of Harpo Radio. Cantillo had program director experience at stations including KFYI
KFYI
KFYI is an American news/talk radio station broadcasting in Phoenix, Arizona. KFYI is owned by Clear Channel Communications. KFYI transmits in both analog AM and digital HD Radio.The digital signal is also rebroadcast on KNIX-FM's HD2 channel....
, KTAR
KTAR (AM)
KTAR is the callsign for a radio station in Phoenix, Arizona. It airs programming from ESPN Radio, in addition to KTAR-acquired broadcast rights for local teams...
, and KGME
KGME
KGME, branded XTRA Sports 910, is a sports radio station located in Phoenix, Arizona and serving the Phoenix metropolitan area. KGME is owned by Clear Channel Communications, the former owners of Mexican station XETRA in Southern California, where the XTRA name came from.The station's weekday...
. A week later, more staff was hired for the channel, including Corny Koehl (director of development), John St. Augustine, Katherine Kelly and Rita Coburn Whack (producers).
In September 2007, Oprah and Friends was added to the DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
lineup on channel 807. Following the Sirius / XM merger, Oprah & Friends was added to Sirius on September 30, 2008 as part of its "Best of XM" package and broadcast on channel 195 (it moved to channel 204 on May 4, 2011). On November 12, 2008, Oprah and Friends was removed from the DirecTV lineup.
In November 2008, John Gehron and Laurie Cantillo exited their positions at Oprah & Friends. Corny Koehl was named Executive Producer of the channel in charge of the creative side and Katherine Kelly was named Operations Manager handling the day to day workings of the channel.