Harpo Productions

Harpo Productions is an American multimedia production company founded by Oprah Winfrey in 1986. The company was established in Chicago and became closely associated with The Oprah Winfrey Show, which it produced and later acquired from WLS-TV, the Chicago ABC owned-and-operated station. That move gave Winfrey substantially greater control over the program's production, commercial relationships, and long-term development. The name Harpo is Oprah spelled backward and also refers to the character Harpo, the on-screen husband played by Winfrey in the 1985 film The Color Purple. Harpo's best-known business has been television production, but its activities have extended across film, publishing, radio, cable television, and digital programming. The company's Chicago production facilities, known as Harpo Studios, became the home of The Oprah Winfrey Show from 1990 and supported a substantial production operation involving studio design, lighting, camera, editing, audio, and graphics teams. The facility also hosted other productions, including The Rosie Show, and provided sets or production support for projects such as The Women of Brewster Place and Beloved. Through Harpo Films, established in 1993, the company developed and produced feature films and long-form television projects. Its film-related credits include Beloved, The Great Debaters, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, Selma, The Hundred-Foot Journey, The Water Man, and the 2023 musical film The Color Purple. Harpo Films also produced television films under the Oprah Winfrey Presents banner. The division entered into an exclusive output arrangement with HBO in the late 2000s after earlier work with ABC, but it was closed as a regular operating division in 2013 as the market for broadcast long-form projects weakened. Some projects already in production continued to appear under the Harpo Films name. Harpo also participated in publishing through Harpo Print, which worked with Hearst Magazines on O, The Oprah Magazine. The company was involved in the magazine's related home-focused publication, O at Home, although that title ended earlier. O, The Oprah Magazine continued as a major extension of Winfrey's editorial brand before its regular monthly print edition ended with the December 2020 issue. In cable television, Harpo was an original partner in the Oprah Winfrey Network, launched in 2011 to replace the Discovery Health Channel. Discovery, later Warner Bros. Discovery, progressively increased its ownership, leaving Harpo with a minority stake of approximately 5 percent after transactions announced in 2017 and 2020. Harpo Radio operated the Oprah & Friends channel on XM Satellite Radio, offering programming about health, self-improvement, parenting, finance, home, nutrition, and current affairs. That operation ended on January 1, 2015. The original Chicago studio property was sold in 2014, demolished in 2016, and later became the site of McDonald's global headquarters. Harpo's corporate base is now associated with West Hollywood, California. In 2021, the company produced The Me You Can't See, an Apple TV+ documentary series co-hosted by Winfrey and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Harpo therefore remains principally a creator-led production and intellectual-property company, with a portfolio shaped by Winfrey's television, film, publishing, and social-impact interests.

Harpo Productions emerged from Oprah Winfrey's transition from television personality to media owner. Winfrey's involvement in The Color Purple in 1985 supplied the company's name and connected her public identity with a broader entertainment career. She founded Harpo in Chicago in 1986, creating a corporate vehicle through which she could develop, produce, and control media projects rather than relying solely on outside broadcasters and studios. The company's decisive early expansion came in 1988, when Harpo acquired The Oprah Winfrey Show from WLS-TV in Chicago. The acquisition gave Winfrey and her company greater ownership of the program's production and commercial value. Harpo also renewed its arrangement with King World Productions, which held a minority interest and was involved in the show's distribution. The program moved into Harpo's Chicago production complex in January 1990 and became the company's defining property for more than two decades. Harpo Studios operated from a renovated former armory building in Chicago's West Loop. The facility became a major production center, supporting The Oprah Winfrey Show and other television work. It housed technical and creative teams responsible for production design, lighting, camera operations, editing, sound, and graphics. The site also supported scripted and unscripted projects connected with Winfrey's production activities. In 2014, the property was sold to Sterling Bay. The building was demolished in 2016, and the site was subsequently developed for McDonald's global headquarters. Harpo broadened its scope in the 1990s. Harpo Films was created in 1993 and developed feature films and long-form television programs. Its television-film work included Before Women Had Wings, The Wedding, David & Lisa, Tuesdays with Morrie, Amy & Isabelle, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day. Its feature-film credits included Beloved, The Great Debaters, Precious, Selma, The Hundred-Foot Journey, The Water Man, and The Color Purple. Although Harpo Films formed a relationship with HBO in the late 2000s, the division was closed in February 2013 after the company concluded that demand for long-form broadcast projects had diminished. A limited number of projects already in progress continued to be released, and the label later appeared intermittently on projects involving Winfrey as producer. Harpo also developed businesses outside conventional film and television. Harpo Print worked with Hearst Magazines to publish O, The Oprah Magazine. The publication extended Winfrey's television brand into advice, lifestyle, culture, health, and personal development content. Its related title, O at Home, ended after a shorter run. In 2020, the regular monthly print edition of O, The Oprah Magazine was discontinued after the December issue, reflecting changes in magazine publishing and the company's wider movement toward digital and other platforms. The Oprah Winfrey Network launched on January 1, 2011, replacing Discovery Health Channel. It was initially structured as a partnership between Harpo Studios and Discovery Communications. OWN offered original series and personalities associated with Winfrey's broader media network, including programs hosted by figures such as Gayle King and Lisa Ling. Discovery increased its ownership through transactions announced in 2017 and 2020, leaving Harpo with an approximately 5 percent minority stake. Harpo Radio operated Oprah & Friends on XM Satellite Radio. The channel featured programming on health, nutrition, fitness, parenting, finance, relationships, home, spirituality, and current affairs, with contributions from figures associated with Winfrey's television and publishing enterprises. It ended operations on January 1, 2015. In the streaming era, Harpo continued to develop documentary and scripted projects. In January 2021, production was announced for The Me You Can't See, an Apple TV+ documentary series co-hosted by Winfrey and Prince Harry. The project reflected Harpo's continuing emphasis on personal testimony, public conversation, mental health, and socially relevant storytelling. Harpo is now best understood as a privately owned, creator-led production company whose activities are organized around Winfrey's television, film, publishing, and digital media interests.

1. 2021The Me You Can't See announced

   Harpo was announced as producer of the Apple TV+ documentary series co-hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry.

   Source
2. 2020O, The Oprah Magazine ends regular monthly print edition

   The December issue became the final regular monthly print edition of the magazine.

   Source
3. 2015Harpo Radio closes

   The Oprah & Friends XM channel and Harpo Radio operation ended on January 1.

   Source
4. 2013Harpo Films division closes

   The regular Harpo Films division shut down, although certain projects already in development or production continued.

   Source
5. 2011OWN launches

   The Oprah Winfrey Network launched as a joint venture initially involving Harpo Studios and Discovery Communications.

   Source
6. 1993Harpo Films established

   Harpo created a film and long-form television division that later produced or co-produced feature films and television movies.

   Source
7. 1990The Oprah Winfrey Show moves to Harpo Studios

   The program began production at Harpo Studios in Chicago on January 15.

   Source
8. 1988Harpo acquires The Oprah Winfrey Show

   Harpo acquired the talk show from WLS-TV and renewed its arrangement with King World Productions.

   Source
9. 1986Harpo Productions founded

   Oprah Winfrey founded Harpo Productions in Chicago as her media production company.

   Source
10. 1985The Color Purple supplies the Harpo name

    Oprah Winfrey appeared in The Color Purple; the company name later drew on Harpo, the name of her character's on-screen husband, as well as Oprah spelled backward.

    Source

Creator-led premium television, film, publishing, and digital media built around Oprah Winfrey's editorial voice and cultural influence.

• The Oprah Winfrey ShowTelevision talk show1986

  Harpo's defining television property was The Oprah Winfrey Show, which Winfrey's company acquired from WLS-TV in 1988 and produced from Harpo Studios beginning in 1990. The program combined interviews, audience participation, personal stories, advice, cultural discussion, and issue-focused segments. Its success established Harpo as a significant creator-owned television operation and gave Winfrey greater control over production and distribution.

• Harpo FilmsFilm and television production1993

  Harpo Films was established in 1993 to develop and produce feature films and long-form television projects. Its credits included Beloved, The Great Debaters, Precious, Selma, The Hundred-Foot Journey, and television films released under the Oprah Winfrey Presents banner. The division was closed as a regular operation in 2013, although some later projects retained the label.

• The Oprah Winfrey NetworkCable television network2011

  OWN launched in 2011 as a cable network created with Discovery Communications and replaced Discovery Health Channel. Its programming included original unscripted series, talk formats, and shows connected with Winfrey's group of experts and media personalities. Harpo's ownership was progressively diluted as Discovery increased its stake, leaving Harpo with an approximately 5 percent minority interest.

• O, The Oprah MagazineMagazine publishing

  Published through Harpo Print with Hearst Magazines, O, The Oprah Magazine extended Winfrey's media brand into lifestyle, health, culture, advice, and personal development. The publication was a major editorial and commercial companion to her television work. Its regular monthly print edition ended with the December 2020 issue as the business shifted away from the traditional print model.

• Oprah & FriendsSatellite radio channel

  Oprah & Friends was produced by Harpo Radio for XM Satellite Radio. The channel featured programming about self-improvement, nutrition, fitness, parenting, health, home, finance, spirituality, and current affairs, with contributions from personalities associated with Winfrey's television and magazine activities. Harpo Radio closed the channel on January 1, 2015.

• The Me You Can't SeeStreaming documentary series2021

  This Apple TV+ documentary series was produced by Harpo and co-hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry. It focused on mental health and emotional well-being through interviews, personal testimony, and conversations with public figures and participants. The project demonstrated Harpo's movement into premium streaming documentaries and socially oriented nonfiction.

• 2021Produce The Me You Can't See for Apple TV+Product launch

  Harpo pursued premium streaming nonfiction focused on mental health, personal testimony, and public discussion.

  What changed. The company produced a documentary series co-hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry.

  Aftermath. The project expanded Harpo's presence beyond traditional broadcast and cable production into global streaming distribution.

  Source
• 2020End the regular monthly print edition of O, The Oprah MagazineStrategy

  The decision occurred amid wider structural changes in magazine publishing and the growth of digital media.

  What changed. Harpo and Hearst announced that the December 2020 issue would be the final regular monthly print edition.

  Aftermath. The magazine's established print run ended while the broader O brand continued in other editorial and digital forms.

  Source
• 2013Close Harpo Films as a regular divisionStrategy

  Harpo cited declining demand for long-form projects, particularly on broadcast television.

  What changed. The company shut down the regular Harpo Films division and expected some staff to move into a scripted series operation at Harpo Studios.

  Aftermath. Films already in production continued to be released, and the Harpo label later appeared irregularly on selected projects.

  Source
• 2011Launch the Oprah Winfrey NetworkProduct launch

  Harpo and Discovery Communications sought to create a cable network built around Winfrey's brand and a wider slate of lifestyle, talk, and nonfiction programming.

  What changed. OWN launched on January 1, replacing Discovery Health Channel.

  Aftermath. Discovery later increased its ownership, leaving Harpo as a minority shareholder with approximately 5 percent.

  Source
• 1988Acquire and control The Oprah Winfrey ShowStrategy

  Harpo sought greater control over Winfrey's flagship television program rather than leaving ownership and production entirely with the originating station.

  What changed. The company acquired the show from WLS-TV and renewed its distribution arrangement with King World Productions.

  Aftermath. The transaction made the show the central asset of Winfrey's creator-owned media company and supported its later production from Harpo Studios.

  Source

• 2021Harpo announced production of The Me You Can't See

  Harpo produced an Apple TV+ documentary series examining mental health and emotional well-being, co-hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2020O, The Oprah Magazine announced the end of its regular print edition

  The magazine announced that its December 2020 issue would be the final regular monthly print edition.

  Other
  Source
• 2020Harpo's OWN stake fell to approximately five percent

  A further transaction involving Discovery reduced Harpo's remaining ownership in OWN to approximately 5 percent.

  M&A
  Source
• 2017Harpo's ownership in OWN was reduced

  Discovery Communications acquired an additional interest in OWN, reducing Harpo's share as the network's ownership structure evolved.

  M&A
  Source
• 2015Harpo Radio ended the Oprah & Friends channel

  Harpo Radio's Oprah & Friends channel on XM Satellite Radio ceased operations on January 1.

  Other
  Source
• 2014Harpo Studios property was sold and later demolished

  The Chicago studio property was sold to developer Sterling Bay in 2014 and demolished in 2016; the site later became associated with McDonald's global headquarters.

  Other
  Source
• 2013Harpo Films closed as a regular operating division

  Harpo ended Harpo Films' regular division structure, citing reduced demand for long-form broadcast projects, while some existing projects continued toward release.

  Other
  Source
• 2011The Oprah Winfrey Network launched

  OWN launched on January 1 as a joint venture initially involving Harpo Studios and Discovery Communications, replacing Discovery Health Channel.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2008Harpo Films entered an exclusive output agreement with HBO

  Harpo Films shifted its long-form television relationship from ABC to an exclusive output pact with HBO.

  Other
  Source

1. Harpo Productions