ROSIE O'DONNELL LEAVING 'THE VIEW'

Rosie O'Donnell on The View

Talk show queen Rosie O'Donnell said on Wednesday she will end her rein as wold co-host of ABC's "The View" in June when her contract expires, ending a nine-month run that saw her do battle with Donald Trump and other celebrities. O'Donnell, 45, said she and the Walt Disney Co.-owned network failed to come to terms on a contract renewal deal, but she would return to the show next season for special segments and as a recurring guest host. She said one unresolved issue in her talks with ABC had been the length of her contract, with the network seeking a three-year extension while she held out for just one year."It just didn't work, and that's showbiz. But it's not sad, because I've loved it here, and I love you guys, and I'm not going away. I'm just not going to be here everyday," O'Donnell said on the show, drawing applause. Barbara Walters, the daytime talk show's creator, co-executive producer and fellow co-host, said she was "sad" over O'Donnell's impending departure and that she was not involved in the negotiations between ABC and O'Donnell."I knew you were coming for one year, I hoped it would be more," Walters said after O'Donnell spoke. The weekday program, averaging 3.5 millions viewers in its 10th season, has seen the size of its overall audience grow 17 percent since O'Donnell joined the show in September. The actress-comedian, an activist for gay adoption and other social causes, has drawn frequent headlines for her brand of commentary. She has often skewered such powerful men as real estate baron Trump and Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly from her seat on "The View," a panel hosted by four women discussing news and gossip.

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