Oprah Winfrey and Apple TV+ end their multi-year content deal, announced in 2018, sources confirm News Kidda.
Sources said Winfrey and Apple TV+ will continue to work together, but on a project basis.
The news comes a few days after the documentary’s debut Sydney, a collaboration between Winfrey and Apple TV+ focused on the life of Sidney Poitier. Reginald Hudlin directed the doc, which debuted on the streaming service Friday.
In addition, the couple will continue their collaboration on Oprah’s Book Club, which is available on both Apple Books and OprahDaily.com.
Two of Winfrey’s most recent high-profile programs – her exclusive interviews with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and with Adele – have aired on CBS.
When the deal was signed in 2018, sources said: THR that the pact included film, TV, applications, books, and other content that could be easily distributed on Apple’s comprehensive platform. The deal was also non-exclusive, meaning Winfrey will remain as head of Discovery Communications-backed cable network OWN.
Winfrey would have found himself in a competitive situation at Apple, with other tech giants, including likely Netflix and Amazon, also pursuing a deal with Winfrey.
Sources told THR that Apple was aggressively pursuing Winfrey as part of a larger effort to reach a wide audience. At the time, Apple wanted to make it clear to Hollywood that they took their efforts in the content business seriously and were looking for top talent to partner with.
Apple has since won two consecutive Emmys for Best Comedy Series (for Ted Lasso) and has more than solidified its intentions with the industry.
As for Winfrey’s deal with Apple, it also delivered the documentary series The me you can’t see a collaboration with Prince Harry focused on mental health, as well as: The Oprah Conversation a series of conversations with newsmakers.
Puck News was the first to report that Winfrey and Apple TV+ were ending their deal.