A coalition of women's groups called on the CBS network to scrap its plan to broadcast an ad during the Super Bowl featuring college football star Tim Tebow and his mother. Critics say it's likely to convey an anti-abortion message. The ad - paid for by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family. "An ad that uses sports to divide rather than to unite has no place in the biggest national sports event of the year - an event designed to bring Americans together," said Jehmu Greene, president of the Women's Media Center. In 2004, CBS cited …

Debmar-Mercury has signed British talk show host Jeremy Kyle to a talent-holding deal. The syndicator plans to develop a U.S. version of Kyle's daytime show in partnership with Britain's ITV Studios, to be sold on a cash-plus-barter basis in broadcast syndication for fall 2011. "The Jeremy Kyle Show" is the U.K.'s most-watched daytime talk show. Some 32% of women who watch daytime TV tune in, according to Debmar-Mercury. Airing since since 2005. It's similar to "Maury," in that subject tend toward domestic issues, such as infidelity and a child's paternity.

"How I Met Your Mother" series creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas have inked a rich new deal with the show's producer, 20th Century Fox TV, for a new comedy project, their first since "HIMYM." Under the duo's new three-year pact, which begins in June, Bays and Thomas will continue to run "HIMYM" while also developing new projects. If "HIMYM" continues to be successful, Bays and Thomas' deal is estimated to reach eight figures, a significant raise from their current contact. Bays and Thomas wrote the untitled new comedy on spec with "HIMYM" writer-producers Kourtney Kang and Joe Kelly …

Shock jock Howard Stern is in the final year of his contract with Sirius XM Radio. With its financial woes, it may not be able to renew his contract at the initial figure: $500 million. Clear Channel Communications said it is interested in signing Stern. The interest hinges on whether Stern, whose on-air profanities resulted in fines from the Federal Communications Commission, would be willing to work "within the limitations" of free over-the-air radio, said John Hogan, chief executive of the radio division of San Antonio-based Clear Channel. Stern has other options besides traditional or satellite radio: He could …

Apple Inc. won't reveal the details of what is widely expected to be a new tablet computer until Wednesday, but it has already shaken up the publishing world, whose executives wonder whether the device will revolutionize the distribution of newspapers, magazines and books in the same way that the iPod transformed the music industry. Pundits and analysts have guessed the gadget will feature a 10-inch touch-screen color display designed for reading, watching video, browsing the Web and playing games. Apple has been slowly amassing digital reading material for the forthcoming device. The New York Times, Condé Nast Publications and …

Super Bowl XLIV, airing on CBS next month, is expected to bring the network an estimated $200 million in ad revenue. But it's also a boon to local stations. Local affiliates gain 11 or more spots to sell during the Super Bowl than their network time usually allows. The network's O&Os, together with the affiliates, have been pitching local ad buys in the annual NFL championship to a much wider circle of advertisers. Stations are targeting marketers that are looking for Super Bowl exposure while avoiding the national commercial price tag, which runs between $2.5 and $2.8 million on …

The Internet has the potential to "exacerbate in equality," which is why universal broadband deployment and adoption is so important, said the FCC's top broadband advisor Blair Levin, at the Minority Media & Telecommunications Association's conference on Broadband and Social Justice. While closing the digital divide was no guarantee of redressing all social ills, he said access can help to provide better jobs, education, health care and government services. To do it, libraries and community centers must be wired into the social structure. "We must ensure that there are no digital second class citizens," Levin said.

Last December, Saul Hansell left his job as a veteran reporter and blogger at the New York Times to become the programming director for Aol's Seed, which is the new online assignment desk for AOL's 80 different Web sites. Seed is a way for AOL to assign articles to anyone on the Web beyond the 3,500 journalists and professional freelancers it employs directly. Hansell explains the "mission is to redefine journalism for the Internet age." Seed is supposed to help by assigning the stories that "satisfy the world's curiosity," A quick look will find gift guides, and the …

A massive age discrimination lawsuit that involved 17 major television networks and studios and seven talent agencies for nearly 10 years reached a $70 million settlement on Friday. Over 165 television writers -- all over 40 years old -- alleged that networks, production companies, and talent agencies refused to hire or represent them because of overt age bias. According to the terms of the settlement, the writers won't receive a set share. Instead, class members will apply to the Fund for the Future, which will be governed by a board composed of settlement class members. The fund will issue …

Viacom Inc. Chief Executive Officer Philippe Dauman said advertising prices improved last quarter and the trend may help advanced sales for the next television season. Dauman echoed other cable channel owners, who said commercials sold closer to air time are commanding higher prices than those sold before new shows started. Ad prices at NBC Universal's cable networks are now more than 30% higher than rates set ahead of the September TV season, Keith Sherin, CFO of NBC's parent General Electric Co. Viacom, which owns the MTV and Nickelodeon networks, will also benefit from higher fees as it renews distribution …