PEOPLE – Winfrey Empire Gains Network; Richie Girl Really Sweet’

Oprah Winfrey is getting her own TV network.

Discovery Communications and Winfrey announced a deal yesterday in which the Discovery Health network will be turned over to Winfrey next year, becoming OWN – the Oprah Winfrey Network.

The cash-free transaction involved Winfrey turning over her Web site to Discovery, while the communications company makes her chairman of the network, which is currently seen in 68 million homes, said David Zaslav, Discovery Communications chief.

Some of Winfrey’s stable of regular contributors could be expected to be part of the programming, he said.

*

Joel Madden says his newborn daughter with Nicole Richie has a healthy appetite.

“She looks so much like her mom it’s crazy! She eats like a little maniac and she’s really sweet,” the Good Charlotte rocker gushes in a post on his DCMA Collective Web site under the heading, “It’s a Girl!!!!!”

Harlow Winter Kate Madden was born Friday in Los Angeles, weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces. She is the first child for Madden, 28, and Richie, 26. The couple began dating in late 2006.

Compiled by Mikki Catanzaro from wire reports.

* * *

Captions:

WINFREY

(c) 2008 Providence Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.