ABC is creating a daytime talk show for Spelling and a co-host. The daughter of late legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling first came to prominence playing Donna Martin on the teen soap "Beverly Hills 90210." Always a tabloid favorite, Spelling has since turned her own life with husband Dean McDermott into a reality show for Oxygen. "Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood," one of the cable network's highest-rated shows. "Spelling," in the very early stages of development, would feature Spelling and a male co-host who would basically serve her BFF. The network is looking for a "Will & …

Small cable companies are promising to push hard for major conditions before Comcast and NBC Universal can move forward with their merger. Steve Friedman, chairman of the American Cable Association, says the trade group for smaller cable systems is concerned that the deal will put them at a significant negotiating disadvantage. Smaller cable systems already feel they pay unfairly high prices to retransmit major network TV outlets compared to bigger systems. The group told the FCC the deal would reduce or eliminate the incentive for NBC stations to negotiate for retransmission and regional sports networks in areas where the …

Microsoft Corp. and former News Corp. President Peter Chernin have discussed creating a television channel for users of the Xbox video-game console. The channel would be exclusive to subscribers of Microsoft's Xbox Live videogame network. Chernin suggested raising Xbox Live's monthly fee by $1 or $2 to add programming aimed at the online service's young, male target audience, one person said. The channel would be owned jointly by Chernin and Microsoft and would offer reruns and original shows. Chernin's proposal underscores Hollywood's efforts to find new ways to convince viewers to pay for films and TV shows delivered on …

Ads containing social media context show an increase in campaign effectiveness, according to a new study by Nielsen Co. and Facebook. The study was based on opt-in polls of more than 800,000 users on Facebook to measure consumer attitudes on more than 125 ad campaigns. It found that ads with social media context, defined as "lightweight endorsements from friends displayed within the ad units," increased ad recall by 1.6 times that of ads without the endorsements; increased brand awareness by 2.0 times; and increased purchase intent by an unspecified amount. "It's critical we understand advertising in terms of the …

Britain's Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has guest hosted ABC's "The View," CNN's "Larry King Live" and is a special correspondent for NBC's "Today" show, but now she wants her own American television program. "I want it me going round (in) middle America," she said. "I want to go out and see what the needs are, and then the audience has to challenge me ... to go and fix the school in Boise or get another restaurant in Allentown," says Ferguson. Ferguson credits America with saving her after her high profile divorce in 1996 from Queen Elizabeth's …

Fox is renewing one of the longest-running shows in prime time, "Cops," for a 23rd season. The show will soon celebrate its 800th episode on the network and has shown 2,044 arrests across 140 U.S. cities. Despite its age, the franchise also ranks as one of the few prime time broadcast series to maintain its ratings this year. Although Friday shows have been declining, Saturday night's "Cops" rakes in a steady 5 million viewers per week. Launched in 1989, the show has changed little over the years and outlived a legion of imitators. A few prime-time series outrank …

CBS' big Masters ratings weren't lost on NBC. The network will air the final two days of this year's U.S. Open in prime time, just the second time in the major's history that it will air during the highest-rated daypart. NBC saw a ratings bonanza, with Tiger Woods expected to play in the tournament, being held June 17 to 20 at the Pebble Beach course in California. NBC will air coverage from 4:30 to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Though he was never really in contention the final day, CBS' ratings soared, with …

Tribune Co. and its creditors agreed Monday to accept the appointment of an independent bankruptcy examiner in the Chapter 11 case, opening the door to further scrutiny of Tribune Co. Chairman Sam Zell's 2007 leveraged buyout of the Chicago-based media conglomerate. Legal experts say the appointment of an independent examiner could speed along negotiations. But it also could raise new issues that might complicate the case. The examiner, appointed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee in Delaware, will be free to inspect all aspects of the case, including the Tribune Co. sale and the fairness of a settlement reached this …

VH1 is producing a record 44 original series in 2010 with a focus on music, celebrity and real life stories. The push is to ensure a connection with young adults 25-34, the demo the network wants to sustain. Said VH1 President Tom Calderone:"They still enjoy VH1's signature sense of fun and irreverence, but they also want more storylines that reflect the issues and challenges they are experiencing in their own lives." Music will remain one of the channel's core offerings, comprising 40% of the entire day schedule starting this September. VH1 will be refreshing brands such as "VH1 Divas" …

Comcast-Spectacor LP Chairman and Managing Partner Ed Snider is an investor in RightNetwork, a media company that is launching a conservative TV, Web and mobile network this summer, a spokesman for the Philadelphia-based partnership said Monday. Comcast said it is not a partner in the network; Snider is. Numerous Web outlets reported over the weekend and Monday that Comcast was a partner in RightNetwork. The reports stemmed from a 16-page PDF file that the liberal site "Crooks and Liars" said it downloaded from RightNetwork's site. "We're creating a welcome place for millions and millions of Americans who've been …