What will Lance Armstrong tell Oprah? Everything?
The media world is agog today as disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong prepares to give Oprah Winfrey a "no-holds-barred" interview next Thursday, January 17.
Oprah: World scoop
In the 90-minute interview, Armstrong will address the doping scandal, years of accusations of cheating, and charges of lying about the use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout his cycling career.
The special episode of Oprah's Next Chapter will air on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. In addition, it will be simultaneously streamed LIVE worldwide on Oprah.com.
The scoop is a big win for Oprah whose network has been struggling since its debut a year ago this month.
News of the interview follows a report in the New York Times suggesting Armstrong was considering publicly admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs
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The NYT report quoted several unnamed sources suggesting Armstrong might admit to doping offences in a bid to “restore his eligibility so he can resume his athletic career”.
Any confession would be welcomed by Britain's Sunday Times which has issued proceedings against Armstrong over a libel action he won against them in 2006, their total claim is likely to exceed £1 million.
Despite a mass of evidence on performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions, Armstrong has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Oprah talks to Armstrong at his home in Austin, Texas. It is the only interview the seven times Tour de France winner has given since being stripped of his titles. He has lost millions in endorsement deals after the US Anti-Doping Agency in a report accusing him of doping throughout his career. Armstrong has been banned for life from competing professionally.
Late last year, Armstrong resigned as chairman of the foundation he created, Livestrong, which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in the fight against cancer.
Oprah's Next Chapter is the primetime series featuring Oprah as she steps outside of the studio for "riveting conversations" says her PR team. You're a invited to join the conversation on Twitter using #NextChapter.
UPDATE: The year before his seventh Tour de France victory, Armstrong offered to donate “in excess of $150,000″ to the US antidoping agency according to the current head of the ggency, Travis Tygart, in an interview with CBS News.
One final irony: the Oprah Winfrey Network is a joint venture with Discovery Communications, the broadcaster that sponsored Armstrong’s team in 2005.
The network’s logo was on the victor’s yellow jersey as Armstrong lectured from the prizewinners' podium those who accused him of doping, , “I’m sorry for you, I’m sorry you can’t dream big and I’m sorry you don’t believe in miracles, but this is one hell of a race, this is a great sporting event and you should stand around and believe. You should believe in these athletes and you should believe in these people.
"I’m a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live and there’s no secrets — this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it.”