FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CULVER CITY, CALIF. and CHICAGO — Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Harpo Productions announced today that SPT will act as the exclusive distributor for The Dr. Oz Show outside the U.S. and Canada.  In addition to distributing the series outside North America, SPT will distribute the format rights for The Dr. Oz Show in those markets.  This follows an announcement made last year naming SPT the distributor of the series in the U.S. and Canada.  The announcement was made today by Keith Le Goy, president, international distribution, Sony Pictures Television, and Tim Bennett, president, Harpo Productions.  

The Dr. Oz Show
 is a multi-topic, multi-segment health and wellness talk show featuring Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, MD, better known to millions as Dr. Oz. The renowned and popular surgeon, educator, and best-selling author, who regularly appears on The Oprah Winfrey Show, will serve as host and offer topical newsworthy information, inspiring stories, and branded elements in an upbeat and entertaining format from Dr. Oz’s unique point of view.  He will be supported by many A-list contributors, health and wellness experts who will offer empowering perspectives and cutting edge information on important, wide-ranging topics such as fitness, weight loss, nutrition, emotional well-being, staying young, looking your best, relationship issues, parenting and handling conflict and stress. 
 
Le Goy stated, “Health and wellness is something that touches and affects everyone around the world. Through his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Oz has demonstrated he is a valued and trusted medical expert. He has developed strong connections with viewers in the U.S. and we are thrilled to be offering this series to the international marketplace and viewers around the world.” 
 
“Just as The Oprah Winfrey Show is a global phenomenon in 141 countries around the world, we expect The Dr. Oz Show to transcend cultural differences and unite viewers across the globe.  Audiences from all backgrounds will find information they need and universally appealing, emotional stories that touch the heart,” said Tim Bennett, president, Harpo Productions. 

The Dr. Oz Show is co-produced by Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and distributed in the U.S. by SPT, and will debut in first-run syndication in the United States later this year.  Canadian sales will be represented by William F. Cooke Television Programs.   Dr. Oz has earned a reputation as “America’s Doctor” through regular appearances over the past three years as the health expert for The Oprah Winfrey Show and is the nation’s preeminent and trusted expert on health and wellness. He is professor and vice-chairman of surgery at Columbia University as well as medical director of the Integrated Medicine Center and director of the Heart Institute at New York Presbyterian/Columbia Medical Center.  As the co-author of the best-selling YOU series, Dr. Oz is also a publishing phenomenon.  In addition to numerous appearances on network morning and evening news programs, Dr. Oz is the host of the “The Dr. Oz Show” on Oprah & Friends Radio on XM Satellite Radio Channel 165 and Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 195, giving viewers crucial information on health issues and sparking in-depth conversations about the essentials to living longer, more vibrant lives.  He has been named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME magazine and one of Esquire Magazine’s 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century. 

Harpo  Productions, Inc. produces the number-one-rated, award-winning The Oprah Winfrey Show; creates and develops original TV programming for  primetime, syndication and cable television; and operates Oprah.com (www.oprah.com),  a  premier  lifestyle  website. Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine. Harpo Films, Inc. produces feature films as well as top-rated telefilms under the "Oprah  Winfrey  Presents" banner. Harpo  Radio, Inc. produces Oprah & Friends (XM channel 156, Sirius channel 195) on Sirius XM Radio. Harpo, Inc. has partnered with Discovery Communications to launch a new cable network “The Oprah Winfrey Network” (OWN) in late 2009 or early 2010. Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry’s leading content providers.  It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment for network and cable television, as well as first-run and off-network series for syndication. With more than 25 programs on the air, SPT boasts a program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. SPT also owns one-half of cable channel GSN and is a partner in FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service. Sony Pictures Television oversees all of Sony Pictures Entertainment's (SPE) domestic digital distribution efforts across all electronically delivered platforms, including the internet and mobile and manages the studio’s video website, Crackle. Sony Pictures Television, advertiser sales, is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States, for Sony BMG and for iN DEMAND's high-definition channel Mojo and the Tennis Channel, and is part owner of national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

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