Apple has signed a multi-year content partnership deal with Oprah Winfrey, officially putting the fruit salad logo company one step closer to world domination.
“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 released on Friday. The projects will be released as part of the iPhone maker’s original content lineup.
Oprah is a big coup from Apple in the battle for A-list talent and project in the booming digital entertainment market.
Last month, Netflix struck a deal with former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle to produce films, documentaries and other content. The streaming giant has also lured prolific television producers like 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.
The Winfrey deal is one of the first of its kind for Apple, which has thus far only set an overall deal with Kerry Ehrin, the veteran showrunner who will helm the company’s upcoming Jennifer Aniston-Reese Witherspoon morning show drama.
Through her Harpo Productions banner, Oprah has produced syndicated talk shows like Dr. Phil, The Dr. Oz Show and Rachael Ray, as well as scripted fare like Ava DuVernay’s Selma, HBO’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and the OWN drama Queen Sugar.
Seems like this deal is officially putting an end to the Oprah 2020 campaign. We may have lost a potentially freaking awesome president, but we’ve certainly gained better TV!
