Oprah 'to make decision on chatshow'

Oprah Winfrey is to announce the future of her talkshow by the end of the year, say reports.

In 2008, the 55-year-old presenter signed a deal to run her OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network station with Discovery Communications, which was initially planned to begin broadcasting this year.

Her Harpo-produced chatshow is currently scheduled to run in syndicated marketplaces through to September 2011. However, she may move the series to her OWN network when her current contract expires, says the New York Daily News.

"It would be a sea change, in that Oprah has been the most significant programme in afternoon television for the past two decades," said Katz Media Group VP Bill Carroll.

He added: "It has impacted the local newscasts in most markets, and, so, what you're looking at is if Oprah goes away, it's not clear who or what will fill that void."

A spokesman for Winfrey stated: "She has not made a decision yet. As she has previously stated, she'll be making an announcement before the end of the year."

OWN is now expected to start televising in 2011. Winfrey and Jennifer Aniston recently denied that they are to co-host a chatshow for the network.