Oprah, Dr. Oz will compete for viewers here

Winfrey Oz

Oprah Winfrey is getting some competition from one of her own contributors.

The new season of "The Oprah Winfrey" show begins Monday on local ABC affiliate WRIC with her exclusive sit-down with Whitney Houston.

The show will air at 4 p.m. weekdays.

Airing at that same time on Richmond's CBS affiliate WTVR is the new syndicated program "Dr. Oz." Dr. Mehmet Oz has been a frequent visitor to "Oprah," making more than 50 appearances in the past five years.

He has now been spun off with his own show -- a la Dr. Phil -- that is co-produced by Winfrey's Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television.

Contractually, "Dr. Oz" is prohibited from airing opposite Winfrey's talk show. But the Richmond market will be an exception.

"We have been cleared to schedule 'Dr. Oz' at 4 p.m. despite WRIC's decision to move 'Oprah' into that time slot," said Peter Maroney, president and general manager for WTVR.

"Oprah" previously aired on WRIC at 5 p.m.; a new newscast now fills that time period.

Steve Bays, promotions manager at WRIC, said: "As part of our contract, we are allowed to run 'Oprah' at 4 p.m., and we have chosen to do so."

Requests for comment from Harpo Productions were not returned.

"'Dr. Oz' was highly sought-after in the market, and there was a pretty competitive effort to get it," Maroney said. "These things always end up being a combination of money, commitment to promote it, time period, the quality of the station and the distributors."

Other changes in current syndicated programming:

• Last week, WRIC added a 5 p.m. newscast -- "8News at 5" -- co-anchored by Juan Conde and Christina Feerick.

• On the CW Richmond (WUPV), "The People's Court" has been moved to 11 a.m.; "The Wendy Williams Show" airs at 2 p.m.; "The Tyra Banks Show" takes over from 3 to 5 p.m. (the first hour is a repeat); and TMZ's gossip show now airs at 10 p.m.

Changes on the way:

• On Monday, WTVR's 7 p.m. newscast, "Virginia Tonight," debuts with Stephanie Rochon and Bill Fitzgerald co-anchoring.

• This coming week only, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" will air at 10 a.m. on WTVR. On Sept. 21, the show moves into the station's 3 p.m. slot, filling the void of "Guiding Light," which signs off forever on Friday.

• Also Sept. 21, "My Name Is Earl" gets its syndication debut at 11 p.m. on the CW.

• From Sept. 21 to Oct. 2, WTVR will air back-to-back episodes of "The Price Is Right" at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. On Oct. 5, a revamped "Let's Make a Deal," featuring Wayne Brady, takes over the 10 a.m. spot and "Price" remains at 11 a.m.

WWBT, Richmond's NBC affiliate, is not planning any changes.

Contact Melissa Ruggieri at (804) 649-6120 or .