It's something unique and exciting, and with all the human drama of the everyday miracle

Shelley Ross, executive producer

The show has also stationed cameras at three hospitals in Boston, Dallas and Houston to be as sure as possible of capturing the event.

Shelley Ross, the show's executive producer, said: "It's something unique and exciting, and with all the human drama of the everyday miracle.''

Her colleagues are scouting the hospitals to obtain permission from mothers-to-be.

The broadcast is likely to fuel debate over the rights and wrongs of so-called "reality TV" - sparked by programmes such as Survivor, Big Brother and Temptation Island.

ABC's critics will also stress that the network has chosen to show the birth during "sweeps'' week - when ratings are used to determine advertising revenue.

Unpredictable

Nethertheless, Ross insisted it was not a stunt to boost Good Morning America's ratings, which trail behind those of NBC's Today show.

A network spokesman added that, in fact, the birth slot had been scheduled for November, but coverage of the presidential election put the idea on hold.

Ross agreed the idea was risky for live television, given the unpredictablity of childbirth.

However, she said that on no account would a pregnant woman be induced for the show's benefit.

Ross and her co-producers are confident of capturing at least one delivery on camera.

One of the three hospitals chosen by the show is Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas - which has the highest number of births in the US.

The countdown to the broadcast will begin on Wednesday with a series of segments devoted to maternity trends in the 21st Century leading up to the live event.