Martha Stewart to Host Version of `The Apprentice'
Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) Martha Stewart will star in a new version of Donald Trump's ``The Apprentice,'' the top-rated show on General Electric Co.'s NBC, after she completes her jail sentence for obstructing justice.

Stewart will do a spin off of the reality program which will have contestants competing for a job at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker said on a conference call today. Mark Burnett and Trump will be executive producers. They didn't say when the show will start.

``She is an amazing woman,'' said Trump today. ``She will do an amazing job.'' Trump said he has been in contact with Stewart and that ``her mood is fantastic.''

Burnett is the producer of reality programs including ``Survivor'' on Viacom Inc.'s CBS network as well as ``The Apprentice.''

``The Apprentice'' generated about $106 million in advertising revenue for NBC between September and November, Nielsen Monitor-Plus said. NBC boosted prices for 30-second commercials to $430,780 last season, Nielsen said. Ad prices rose on the strength of the first season's ratings.

Future revenue may be hurt by the 22 percent decline in audience numbers last season, according to media economist Hal Vogel.

Stewart also plans to star in a daily one-hour daytime television show next year that will be created by Burnett, Burnett and her company said on Dec. 8. The program will have a live audience and feature Stewart's cooking and decorating tips.

Shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia fell 22 cents to $33.47 at 1:46 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.

The stock has more than doubled in the past year on investor optimism that Stewart's release from jail next month will revitalize her media company and its flagship magazine, Martha Stewart Living.

Burnett said today the agreement for Stewart to do ``The Apprentice'' was made before she went to jail.

Martha Stewart to host new 'Apprentice'
NBC plans to broadcast an additional version of the hit reality show featuring the domestic diva.

February 2, 2005: 3:56 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - NBC said Tuesday it would broadcast an additional version of the hit reality show "The Apprentice" featuring Martha Stewart as host.

The new edition will be titled "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," the peacock network said. Donald Trump, the host of the original "Apprentice" and creator Mark Burnett will serve as Executive Producers of both series.

"The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" will retain the general format of the original series including weekly eliminations, but the format of the show will be tailored to Stewart's personality and brand identity, according to the network.

The tasks will be centered around Stewart's areas of expertise: media, home renovation, entertaining, design, merchandising, technology and style.

"I am thrilled to be able to offer my good friend Martha the opportunity to join me in the success of 'The Apprentice,'" Trump said in a statement. "I hope she has as much fun as I do with this venture."

Stewart is currently serving a 5-month sentence at a federal correction facility in Alderson, W. Va., for obstructing justice during a government investigation of her 2001 sale of ImClone stock.

She is due to be released from federal prison March 4th.