David Zaslav (
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Discovery Communications is coughing up more cash to launch a new cable channel with Oprah Winfrey in return for more on-camera time with the talk queen.
Discovery is almost doubling the amount of money it is pouring into the cable network venture to $189 million, up from the initial $100 million.
In return, Winfrey agreed to boost her on-air presence — either hosting or starring in another show — that will air on the network, which is expected to launch in January in 80 million homes.
“We’re leaning into the content and the venture,” Discovery CEO David Zaslav told The Post.
Previously, Discovery said Winfrey would appear in a primetime travel series called “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” Winfrey is contractually prevented from hosting another talk show until her successful syndicated program ends in September 2011.
“Oprah has been really engaged, and she’s the creative leader of this channel,” Zaslav said. “We’re going to see more of Oprah.”
The cable channel, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, is a 50-50 joint venture with Oprah’s production company, Harpo, although 100 percent of the funding is coming from Discovery.
Winfrey’s precise involvement has been the subject of speculation. While she isn’t transferring her current talk show to the new channel, Oprah is expected to produce shows for the network and appear in some of them.
Already she has signed up projects from celebrity friends, such as a documentary on moms from Julia Roberts and a show from rapper Jay-Z. Comedian Rosie O’Donnell will also be helming a new talk show, as will Oprah gal pal Gayle King.
As part of the deal, Discovery also agreed to pursue an expansion of the network in the UK and Canada.
“The increased funding increases the risk around the Oprah network be cause Discovery has more skin in the game in terms of its investment,” said Anthony DiClemente, a media and entertainment analyst at Barclays Capital.
On the advertising side, industry insiders estimate that the network sold 40 percent of its first-year schedule during the “upfront” ad sales season in May.
The network, which has already signed multi-year ad deals with Procter & Gamble, Kohl’s and General Motors, could bring in an estimated $200 million a year in ad revenue, according to industry sources.
The new channel, which will have separate ad and affiliate sales teams from Discovery, is setting the bar high. OWN is asking cable and satellite-TV providers to pay 40 to 50 cents a month per subscriber, compared to the industry average of 25 cents. catkinson@nypost.com