Latest in Harpo

Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Inc. company has a message for a podcasting production: “O, no, you don’t.” The talk show host’s company is suing the podcasters who created "Oprahdemics," which purportedly celebrates all things Oprah. The trademark infringement lawsuit was filed in Manhattan Federal Court and claims the podcast…

Discovery has upped its stake in OWN to 95% with the network's founder and namesake Oprah Winfrey receiving $35 million worth of Discovery stock in exchange, according to an SEC filing Tuesday. Discovery and Winfrey launched OWN in 2008 and the David Zaslav-led media company has periodically raised its stake in the…

Another long-time executive from Oprah Winfrey‘s inner circle is out. After a 18-year stint as president of Harpo Films, Kate Forte was let go today. While the company continues to have a couple of projects in development at HBO, where it has been under a deal since 2008, Harpo Films has little to show for its efforts…

EXCLUSIVE: Did Oprah Winfrey go too far in promoting her new cable network OWN as well as sister Discovery Communications nets on her syndicated talk show? I hear broadcast stations are upset over several shows last week that they believe crossed a line into self-promotion that encourages viewers to tune to cable and…

EXCLUSIVE: Oprah Winfrey is in talks to star for HBO Films in Ruined, an adaptation of Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Ruined, which won an array of awards during its 2009 off-Broadway run, focuses on a brothel in war-torn Congo and the struggles of its madam, Mama Nadi, to keep herself and the women…

Another Discovery executive has been brought over to OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, Discovery Communications’ co-venture with Harpo. Maurizio Vitale has been named SVP marketing for the channel, slated to launch on January 1, 2011. He will oversee all on-air and off-air marketing and promotion, reporting to OWN CEO…