The queen of all media is soon to literally become one as Discovery Communications Inc. will launch a joint-venture partnership with Oprah Winfrey sometime next year called OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) which will combine her television show and Web site with Discovery's Health Channel, the company announced today.

"The focus of the channel will be the focus of Oprah’s brand, which is to educate and inspire people to live the best life they can," said David Zaslav, Discovery Communications chief.

Winfrey is set to have full editorial control over it and will be responsible for OWN’s lifestyles-targeted programming, branding and creative vision.  

"There is no stronger voice than Oprah Winfrey in engaging, motivating and connecting people to live healthier lives," added Zaslav, "Oprah has inspired me personally, and through this new venture, Oprah’s talent and drive will have a dedicated multimedia platform to empower, engage and connect with people on-air and on-line."

Discovery will be in charge of operational duties and distribution.

"At Discovery, our goals are to improve the quality of the networks while expanding the reach and success of our Web presence," Zaslav said "This venture does both, and having Oprah as chairman and creative leader makes OWN a very unique property in a crowded media landscape."

Although Winfrey's exclusive distribution contract for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" is due to expire in May 2011, an option to end the show as early as 2010 means its fate will likely be the subject of discussion this fall, Oprah said on Tuesday.

"One day the show has to end," she said on a conference call to announce the Discovery deal. "That may be in 2011 and it may be after 2011."

The talk show host explained in a statement that the network "is the evolution of the work I've been doing on television all these years and a natural extension of my show."

The cable and satellite channel will initially be available in more than 70 million homes, and the venture will include Winfrey's Oprah.com website.

"Fifteen years ago, I wrote in my journal that one day I would create a television network, as I always felt my show was just the beginning of what the future could hold," she added.

Besides the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” Oprah has her own Radio Station, YouTube channel, television production company and a magazine.