Harpo Productions, Inc

While the name Harpo Productions, Inc. may sound like a clever Marx Brothers skit, it is clearly much more than that. For nearly three decades, Harpo Productions has been a giant in the media industry and its leader, Oprah Winfrey is one of the most powerful media personalities in the world. However, just as Oprah had humble beginnings so did her history making company.

In the Beginning

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most recognizable names in entertainment. She started her career in the early 1970s and eventually, became famous for her engaging and uplifting talk show.

Consistent with her vision for television, Winfrey had always had a goal of producing quality programming and in 1986 formed Harpo. As the story goes, the name is Winfrey's unique first name spelled backwards. Eventually, Harpo would help produce "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Over time and smartly syndicated, the show would become one of the most successful tlak shows in history. It earned three Emmy Awards after its first year on the air. Soon, there after Harpo began to seek other projects.

Ultimately, Harpo helped produce a number of projects including, The Women of Brewster's Place, Kaffir Boy, and the feature film adaptation of Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize winning novel Beloved.

Harpo Productions made television history in 1988 when it announced that it had assumed ownership and all production responsibilities for "The Oprah Winfrey Show." That same year, , the company established its television and film production facility in downtown Chicago. Since then, Harpo has continued to expand its offerings.

Television

Harpo Productions continues to produce "The Oprah Winfrey Show." In the past, it has played a part in the successful "Dr. Phil" and the "Dr. Oz" shows. Other than talk shows, Harpo has worked on a number of television movies such as "Amy and Isabelle", "Their Eyes Were Watching God", and "For One More Day." The television giant has also undertaken a new project- Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) which is a joint ownership to Harpo Studios and Discovery Communications. Set to start in January 2011, OWN TV, which will be designed to replace the Discovery Health Channel, will offer innovative programming that will help its viewers have healthier and more informed lives. It also has a deal with HBO to create some additional programming.

Films

When Precious won such critical acclaim this past Oscar season, many did not know that Oprah Winfrey was one of the executive producers of the film. Harpo Productions have aided in the creation of a number of noteable films including "The Great Debaters", "Beloved" and an update to "The Color Purple."

Radio

Harpo Productions has many divisions, including Harpo Radio Inc. For Harpo Radio, the company is promoting a message of physical and financial wellness along with its topics on parenting.

All that is O is not Harpo

While Harpo remains an industry trendsetter, it is not a vehicle for all of Oprah Winfrey's media endeavors. Her O Magazine is a separate venture inwhich Winfrey has teamed up with Hearst Publishing.

Oprah Winfrey has built an incredibly successful entertainment company with Harpo Productions, Inc. It is one of the largest Black owned companies today and is clearly an entertainment juggernaut. The future of Harpo remains bright with its fresh ideas and focus on Oprah's fans.