The Ticker

> This morning on Good Morning America Weekend Deepak Chopra will share a recording he'd been working on with Michael Jackson. Last night on MSNBC, Chopra said that in 2005 Jackson asked him for a prescription for Oxycontin.

> The Huffington Post's Nico Pitney is on CNN's "Reliable Sources" tomorrow to talk about the prearranged question he asked at Pres. Obama's news conference this week. WaPo's Dana Milbank weighs in too.

> Tonight's ABC News production "Focus Earth with Bob Woodruff" looks at eco-terrorism. Woodruff highlights the emergence of the groups ELF and ALF which have caused more than $150 million in damages trying to stop deforestation. The show airs tonight at 6:30pmET on Planet Green.

> Bob Schieffer's younger brother has officially kicked off his run for governor of Texas. Tom Schieffer, a Democrat and a former ambassador to Australia and Japan during the administration of President George W. Bush, announced his candidacy in Fort Worth this morning.

> Tonight, BBC World News America begins three days of "extensive coverage looking at the issues facing Pakistan and Afghanistan", according to a press release. For two of those days — today and tomorrow — the show will be co-anchored by Matt Frei live from Pakistan and Katty Kay in Washington.

> The Radio-Television News Directors Association has announced its 2009 RTNDA/UNITY Awards winners. Among the four news organizations honored: MSNBC, for "Meeting David Wilson". The documentary tells the story of the meeting of two men: one a descendant of the family that owned the ancestors of the other as slaves in the antebellum South.

> "Welcome to the Nantucket Film Festival — where Jews come to be honored," cracked NBC's Brian Williams, as he emceed the annual Film Festival this weekend. The event honored actor/director Harold Ramis. "I never thought I'd say this but how do you follow Brian Williams?," joked Ramis.

> NPR's Scott Simon will guest anchor BBC World News America tonight sitting in for Matt Frei. Frei is in Pakistan preparing reports for a special series later this week.

> Wednesday, July 29, CNBC debuts "Ultimate Fighting: Fistful of Dollars." Scott Wapner travels to Germany and goes inside the UFC Octagon with controversial front man Dana White, and billionaire backers Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta.

> Hamptons weekend resident and Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer will be hosting the 13th Annual Heart of the Hamptons Gala Saturday. The event honors FNC medical expert Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld for his work in cardiac care.

> CNBC's Suze Orman hosts a special July 4th episode of her show honoring the men and women in the U.S. military. Orman takes questions from the troops in the U.S. and overseas focusing on topics including home ownership, saving for retirement and credit card debt.

> PRNewser has the internal memo announcing the promotion of 14-year CBS PR veteran, Kevin Tedesco. Tedesco, who works mainly with "60 Minutes," was named executive director, communications.

> Glenn Beck's radio show is expanding to three hours in New York. The WOR program will run from 9am-NoonET beginning Monday.

> Jim Cramer hosts a Father's Day special edition of Mad Money, "It's a Family Affair," on Friday. The show includes a live studio audience and Q&A segments.

> Larry King Live has an exclusive interview, and behind-the-scenes footage, from The Jonas Brothers' world tour on Thursday. The brothers will be interviewed by King from Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

> Anderson Cooper 360 will run a special series, "America's High: The Case For and Against Pot," this week. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Randi Kaye and more will contribute.

> Bloomberg's Al Hunt interviews Pres. Barack Obama tomorrow as part of the White House roll-out of regulatory reform. It takes place around 4pmET.

> PBS' Worldfocus begins a series this week, "The Health of Nation." It looks at how countries around the world provide quality healthcare, beginning with Singapore tonight.

> BBC World News America, anchored by Matt Frei, posted a .14 rating in the A25-54 demo on Monday, tying CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight, reports Broadcasting & Cable. Last week the broadcast averaged a .10.

> Food & Wine Magazine editor Kate Krader has dinner with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow for the "Mouthing Off" blog. Topics of conversation: "Gitmo detainees going to Palau" and "ice cubes in Ssam's excellent Old-Fashioned."

> FBN's Happy Hour co-host Rebecca Diamond appeared today on The Tyra Banks Show. Diamond explained how to "invest in yourself" and more. Click continued to see the clip...

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> Beginning July 13 you can catch David Gregory and Meet the Press on Retirement Living TV. The NBC program will be rebroadcast Mondays at 7 and 10pmET.

> GMA's Sam Champion will serve as Master of Ceremonies tonight at the IREO Renewable Energy Awards Gala at the UN. The event honors "individuals and organizations who choose to lead the way of global advancement in alternative energy solutions."

> Hoda Kotb gets a new co-host next week on the 4th hour of Today — actually, she gets four. Each day a different "Housewife" from Bravo's hit shows fill-in for the vacationing Kathie Lee Gifford. Hey Anderson Cooper — NeNe hosts Wednesday.

> The AP's David Bauder writes about last week's big ratings for the NBC "White House" special. Both nights finished in the top 10 programs of the week.

> CNN has launched a fellowship program with Columbia University's journalism grad school. One student will spend a six-month period at CNN's New York bureau.

> Two recent awards to CBS Newsers: Erin Moriarty was honored for Distinguished Service at her alma mater, Ohio State, and Morley Safer was honored by the Canadian Journalism Foundation.

> CBS' The Early Show brings their summer concert series to the USS Intrepid, with the first performance on Friday. Lionel Richie and Akon perform, and the entire broadcast will originate from aboard the ship.

> CNBC's "Dollars & Danger: Africa the Final Investment Frontier," premieres Wednesday at 9pmET. The Erin Burnett special repeats Sunday at 10pmET.

> Charlie Gibson anchors ABC World News from Boston tonight. Earlier today he interviewed Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner at Fenway Park.