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Sundance Channel will spotlight the work of maverick animator Bill Plympton starting May 2, 2004 with broadcasts of two his feature films and a shorts collection.

The short film program, MONDO PLYMPTON, leads off at 8:00 pm, featuring the films, YOUR FACE ANIMATOR, ONE OF THOSE DAYS, HOW TO KISS, 25 WAYS TO QUIT SMOKING, PLYMPTOONS, DRAW, NOSEHAIR, PARKING, which appeared at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, and EAT WELCOME, winner of the Canal+ Award at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. (2001).

Comcast is expected to acquire Paul Allen's computer-info channel TechTV for about $300 million, to merge it with Comcast's fledgling G4 channel, reports VARIETY, in an effort to boost its programming assets and subscriber reach.

The merger of G4 and TechTV, would combine the best original programming of each into a videogame-focused, computer and technology-based network, reaching around 45 million subs, targeted to the highly desirable male 18-34 demo.

Fox Kids Europe is taking its U.K. channel round the clock starting Nov. 3, 2003, in one of the most competitive kids markets in the world. The channel had been broadcasting from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. The kids net plans to tap into the young, early risers, as well as those adult fans keen to tune into the channels late night POWER RANGERS, classic 80s animation and Marvel programming.

Filmmaker Spike Lee is suing Viacom Inc. over its plans to call the TNN channel Spike TV to attract male viewers. Lee filed papers June 3, 2003 for an injunction against Viacom's use of the name, it was reported by The Hollywood Reporter. "The media description of this change of name, as well as comments made to me and my wife, confirmed what was obvious that Spike TV referred to Spike Lee," he said in court papers. Viacom has been asked to explain why it shouldn't be barred from using the name. Viacom bought TNN in 2000 and announced a new programming and branding initiative, which is expected to launch on June 16, 2003. Viacom said it was confident the court would reject Lee's claims to the name Spike. Lee said TNN's president Albie Hecht has publicly associated the name "Spike" with Lee. Lee has signed affidavits from industry people who thought of Lee when they heard about Spike TV. Some believed Lee had become affiliated with the network.