Oprah Winfrey reveals docuseries and new book club as part of Apple partnership

Tim Cook saved Apple’s biggest star for last on Monday, as the tech giant unveiled its Apple TV+ service for original content, touting an exclusive partnership with the one and only Oprah Winfrey.

Closing out the splashy presentation that included Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and J.J. Abrams, Winfrey was welcomed with loud cheers and applause as she took the iconic stage at the Steve Jobs Theater to unveil details of her new shows.

“We want to reach beyond the borders of our hearts and minds to face the daunting challenges of our time. Each of us comes to this Earth with a deep potential that yearns to be fulfilled,” Winfrey said. “We all crave connection, we search for common ground, we want not just to be heard but we also need to listen, be open and contribute in order to harness our hopes, dreams and heal our divisions. That’s why I’ve joined forces with Apple.”

A docuseries titled Toxic Labor will explore “the toll of sexual harassment and assault and violation in the workplace.” The other untitled multi-part series will focus on mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, with the hopes that “if we do our jobs right, we can replace stigma with wisdom, compassion and honesty.”

Also, the famous Oprah’s Book Club will be revamped for the Apple platform to be the “the biggest, the most vibrant, the most stimulating book club on the planet,” “uniting people with stories,” and hopefully streaming conversations with Winfrey and authors.

The multi-hyphenate media mogul and talk show queen explained that Apple “allows me to do what I do in a whole new way” by connecting to a wide audience across numerous platforms. When the deal was announced last June, Apple made clear that its partnership with Winfrey would not affect her contract with OWN, the television network she debuted back in 2011 and with whom she has recently extended her contract through 2025.

During Monday’s presentation, Apple announced that its slate of upcoming original shows and movies will debut exclusively on Apple TV+ in Fall 2019, while providing no details on the exact launch date or the price that the subscriptions will be.

A long-standing pioneer of the morning talk show, Winfrey established herself as a host focused on positive, optimistic, life-changing human stories, and spotlighting extraordinary achievements. As part of her Apple partnership, Winfrey said she wanted to “reach that sweet spot where insight and perspective, truth and tolerance actually intersect.”

Related content:

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• Oprah Winfrey signs multi-year partnership with Apple for original programming
• Here’s every show, film, and star attached to Apple’s upcoming originals slate