Oprah Winfrey expanding her role at OWN channel

NEW YORK?- Oprah Winfrey is expanding her role at her struggling network beyond the position of chairman.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced Wednesday that she will also become the chief executive officer and chief creative officer beginning this fall.

Winfrey is claiming the title once held by Christina Norman, the former CEO who was dismissed in May in the wake of disappointing ratings for the channel. Norman's position has been filled in the interim by Peter Liguori, the chief operating officer for Discovery Communications.

OWN premiered Jan. 1. It's a joint venture of Discovery and Winfrey's Harpo, Inc.

Winfrey's syndicated talk show ended in May. She has since pledged to devote her full energies to OWN.