As the annual convention of the National Association of Television Program Executives gets underway in Las Vegas today, statiions are hoping that in 2010 the ad market will improve so their cash positions will get better.

As B&C reports, it’s a tough syndication market out there, both on the cash and barter side.

A good round-up of syndication stories B&C had during the last week, including ones about Debmar-Mercury, CBS Television Distribution, Tribune, and Liongates’ Kevin Beggs re-election as NATPE board chairman, can all be found here.

Separately, The Hollywood Reporter has a story that Debmar-Mercury is teaming up with ITV Studios to launch a U.S. version of the popular British program "The Jeremy Kyle Show." If a limited summer test run works, the show will be rolled out nationally for fall 2011.

The producers said the British version, which debuted in 2005, is the country’s most-viewed daytime talk show.

–Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross