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 "Together, Winfrey and Apple will create original programs that
embrace her incomparable ability to connect with audiences
around the world," Apple said in a statement.
Apple gave no details of the type of programing that Winfrey
would create, the value of the deal, or when it might be
released. Winfrey had no immediate comment.
Winfrey, 64, an influential movie and TV producer who also
publishes a magazine, is expected to appear on screen, a source
familiar with the deal said.
Apple has not said how it plans to distribute its programing, to
which it has committed an initial $1 billion.
The partnership is the biggest original content deal struck by
Apple so far as it aims to compete with Netflix Inc, Amazon.com
Inc and Time Warner Inc's HBO.
Netflix, which has said it will spend up to $8 billion on
programming this year, in May struck a multi-year deal with
former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle to
produce films, documentaries and other content.
Netflix, the world's leading streaming entertainment provider,
has also lured prolific television producers Ryan Murphy and
Shonda Rhimes away from broadcast television.
Amazon said in November it had bought the global television
rights to "The Lord of the Rings" and would produce a
multi-season series that explores new storylines preceding
author J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring." Earlier
this week, Amazon also announced a development deal with
Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman's production company for
movies and television.
For its part, Apple in November ordered two seasons of a
dramatic series with Hollywood stars Reese Witherspoon and
Jennifer Aniston, looking at the lives of people working on a
morning television show.
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Other projects Apple has announced include a remake of Steven
Spielberg's 1980s science fiction anthology series "Amazing
Stories," based on Isaac Asimov's influential "Foundation" science
fiction novels, and a drama from "La La Land" movie director Damian
Chazelle.
Under the deal with Winfrey, she will remain chief executive of
cable channel OWN, which she launched in 2011 in partnership with
Discovery Inc. Winfrey in December extended her contract with OWN
through 2025, OWN and Apple said.
Under her contract with OWN, Winfrey can appear on camera on other
platforms on a limited basis.
Known in the United States by millions on a first-name basis,
Winfrey rose to fame as the host of her own television talk show,
using it to build a media empire that spans magazine publishing,
movie and television production, cable TV and satellite radio.
Born into poverty, she is one of the world's wealthiest women and
has been nominated for two Academy Awards.
A rousing speech by Winfrey at the Golden Globes awards ceremony in
January triggered an online campaign to persuade her to run for U.S.
president in 2020.
She dismissed the notion, telling InStyle magazine in an interview,
"It's not something that interests me."
(Additional reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bill Rigby and
Richard Chang)
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