Wednesday’s finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show was the highest-rated episode in more than 17 years, according to preliminary Nielsen numers. The episode delivered a 13.3 household rating in the nation’s metered markets. It was the highest number since February 1994.
For the final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show taped Tuesday and airing Wednesday, the talk show queen appeared alone on her Chicago stage, talking to viewers about what they’ve meant to her during the show’s 25-year run.
Oprah Winfrey’s last show, on Wednesday, will be the biggest such moment since Johnny Carson left The Tonight Show.
As The Oprah Winfrey Show ends, with 16 episodes left as of May 4, her millions of fans around the globe are waiting to see how she will close out a show that engineered a media empire. Winfrey’s producers plan a star-studded, double taping on May 17 at Chicago’s United Center. The shows will air May 23 and 24, as Winfrey’s second and third-to-last episodes.
With Oprah Winfrey readying for her May 25 sign-off, advertisers are being asked to dig deep into their pockets. The asking price for a 30-second opportunity to reach viewers on Winfrey’s final daytime talk show is currently at $1 million. Depending on placement within the show, some buyers will likely shell out even more.
