US TV networks unveil comedy stimulus plans

NEW YORK: US television networks, suffering from falling ratings and advertising sales during the recession, are self-administering a stimulus package of comic relief.

News Corp's Fox will add four comedies in September, the network said at annual meetings with advertisers this week in New York. NBC is moving Jay Leno to a prime-time slot for five nights. Walt Disney Co's ABC gathered ad buyers at Lincoln Center to highlight two hours of laughs planned for Wednesdays.

The networks, facing a battered economy and losing audiences to the Web, cable TV and video games, are taking a cue from marketers in betting that laughter may cure advertising declines.