In a move that, according to today's New York Times, raises the reality-TV stakes significantly, this spring ABC will debut six episodes of "Miracle Workers," which chronicles the lives of seriously ill patients whose "miracle" treatments will be billed to the network. The production team will include Renegade 83, along with Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey of DreamWorks Television, previously of "Las Vegas" and "Rescue Me."

Rupert Murdoch, recently enamored of the Web, has reportedly told a News. Corp. executive that he may be prepared to spend upwards of $1 billion to upgrade DirecTV, his satellite service, so that it would be competitive with cable as a provider of high-speed Internet connections. Currently, satellite has limitations as a broadband alternative to cable--it is generally slower than the best cable has to offer, and it lack the two-way capability of cable, which makes it more difficult for Murdoch's companies to bundle TV, telephone, and Internet service in a so-called triple-play package. "Over the longer run, the broadband …

It had to happen. The newly reconstituted CBS Coporation, led by Les Moonves, is rebranding Paramount Television. It will now be named -- what else?--CBS Paramount Television. And its logo, not yet revealed to the public, will merge elements of the familiar CBS eye with Paramount's mountain. The newly named unit includes the former Paramount Network Television, Paramount Domestic Television, and Paramount International. Paramount Pictures, the movie studio, remained with Viacom in the company's recent restructuring.

Conde Nast's Teen Vogue, seeking to cement its relationship with its youthful readers, is sponsoring a three-day fashion education program in New York in October. Targeted to young aspiring designers, the event will include seminars and lectures conducted by the magazine's fashion editors on such topics as jewelry design and managing a clothing line. There will also be a live concert and fashion show. Teen Vogue, showing the marketing savvy of parent Conde Nast, has named the event FashionistaU.  

Radio and television host Jerry Springer takes every opportunity to mock his own TV show, saying it's patently stupid and that audiences deserve his apology for the silliness he helps put on the air. But the fact of the matter is that viewership has been strong. Result: "The stupidest show on TV" (Springer's description) is returning. NBC Universal Domestic Television has renewed its deal with Springer for another year. The syndicated strip reaches about 85 percent of U.S. households; most are in the top 50 markets.

Dutch media and marketing research giant VNU, which is facing a takeover bid from leverage buyout firms that would likely break it up and sell off the pieces, Tuesday became a takeover player itself, acquiring BuzzMetrics Inc., a leading developer of word-of-mouth and buzz marketing research.

Music programming went from high fidelity to high definition this week with the launch of MHD, a new high-definition music channel from MTV Networks. Eschewing traditional East and West Coast media hubs, the new digital channel splits the difference, making its headquarters on Eagles Nest, atop Mount Vail in Vail, Colo.

CNBC has emerged as the first truly global business channel, simultaneously broadcasting on three continents, and seamlessly linking coverage of the three major financial markets--Wall Street, Europe and Asia--thanks to a new fiber network launched by the channel last month.

In another move into the offline media world, Google Tuesday said it would pay $102 million in cash to acquire Newport Beach, Calif.-based Dmarc Broadcasting, a company that services radio advertisers. Google said it plans to integrate Dmarc into Google's AdWords program, creating a new radio ad distribution channel for Google's advertisers. "Google is committed to exploring new ways to extend targeted, measurable advertising to other forms of media," Tim Armstrong, Google's vice president of advertising sales, said in the announcement.

The long-awaited fifth season premiere of Fox's "24" scored big ratings, turning in its most-watched episode ever Sunday night. The premiere benefited from a strong lead-in: Fox Sports' coverage of the NFL's NFC divisional playoff game between the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. Airing from about 8:13-9:11 p.m. (ET), the first episode of "24" averaged 17 million viewers and a 7.3 rating , according to preliminary Nielsen ratings.