BARBARA WALTERS NAMES WHOOPI GOLDBERG MODERATOR OF "THE VIEW"

Barbara Walters, creator/executive producer and co-host of ABC's "The View," officially announced today, live on "The View," that Whoopi Goldberg has been named moderator of her Emmy(r) Award-winning morning talk and entertainment show. Since the show's inception, Ms. Goldberg has made thirteen guest appearances and has been a guest co-host fourteen times. She will debut on "The View" on September 4 (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, ET), the start of the show's eleventh season.

"I have known Whoopi for years. She is brilliant, funny and irrepressible, and is an enormously popular and talented star. We are delighted that she is going to join the program as our moderator. This is going to be a great new chapter for 'The View,'" said Ms. Walters.

"We are thrilled to have Whoopi join us as moderator for the eleventh season of 'The View,'" said Brian Frons, president, Daytime Disney-ABC Television Group. "She is a grounded soul, funny, wise and a good listener, all of which will work well for her in that role. It should be quite an ensemble."

"I'm really glad to be doing 'The View.' It's a show I like with people I like, and I'm looking forward to it," said Ms. Goldberg.

Whoopi Goldberg made her motion picture debut in Steven Spielberg's film version of Alice Walker's novel, "The Color Purple," which garnered her both an Oscar(tm) nomination and the Golden Globe(r) as Best Actress. She has appeared in countless other films, including "Ghost," a role that earned her the Academy Award(r) and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Ms. Goldberg has also made numerous appearances on television, including "Comic Relief" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and served as host of the Academy Awards multiple times. In 1992 she hosted her own late night talk show that was hailed by critics. She is the recipient of the Grammy(r), Emmy(r) and the 2002 Tony Award(r) and Drama Desk Award as a producer for the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," as well as the 1985 Theater World and Drama Desk Award for her one woman show, "Whoopi Goldberg." She recently published her third book and will continue to host her daily radio show, "Wake Up With Whoopi," which is syndicated nationally by Clear Channel.

"The View" is produced by and features ABC News correspondent Barbara Walters, comedian Joy Behar and designer/former "Survivor: The Australian Outback" participant Elisabeth Hasselbeck. "The View" is the original forum in which real women discuss everyday issues and share their no-holds-barred opinions and engage in colorful conversations.

Currently celebrating its 10th season, "The View" has received 22 Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Talk Show. The show has received numerous nominations, including ten consecutive nominations for Outstanding Daytime Talk Show and Outstanding Talk Show Host. "The View" is seen live MONDAY-FRIDAY (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, ET; CLOSED-CAPTIONED; in stereo, TV-14), on ABC. "The View" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's HDTV format, in stereo).

ABC.com now streams select daily clips of the "Hot Topics" discussed on "The View." In addition the clips are available on all of Disney-ABC Television Group's mobile partners' services for viewing on cell phones. Log on to abc.com (keyword: theview).

"The View" is produced by ABC Daytime and Ms. Walters' Barwall Productions, with Ms. Walters serving as executive producer along with Bill Geddie, who also serves as executive producer for "The Barbara Walters Specials."