MUMBAI: News Corp-owned American television network Fox Broadcasting Network Sunday celebrated 25 years of its existence with a look back at the groundbreaking and irreverent shows that have defined the network since its first signal transmission on 5 April 1987.

Fox changed the American broadcasting landscape ever since it launched by keeping a check on its competitors with path breaking shows prominent among them being The Simpsons, 90210, and American Idol, which proved to be a great gamechanger.

In April 1985, Rupert Murdoch controlled News Corporation bought 50 per cent interest in Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation for $250 million, only to complete the acquisition later in the year by buying the remaining 50 per cent interest in company for $325 million.

The company followed that up with the acquisition of six Metromedia television stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Washington, for $1.9 billion which eventually led to the formation of the Fox Television Stations Group.

The acquisitions marked the beginning of News Corp?s foray in the American broadcast market which was till then dominated by American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and National Broadcasting Company (NBC).

News Corporation and Fox Television Stations completed the acquisition of New World Communications Group for $2.3 billion in January 1997, making Fox the largest and most powerful station operator with 22 stations covering more than 40 per cent of the nation.

In 1999, Fox finished its first-ever broadcast season as the most popular network among Adults 18-34 and Teens, while also ranking second among its target audience of Adults 18-49 by the smallest margin in the network?s history.

According to Associated Press report, Fox proved that there was room for a fourth U.S. broadcast network, three decades after Dumont dissolved in 1955 and left the Big Three networks to slice up an increasingly rich pie.

Horizon Media SVP research Brad Adgate believes Fox hasn?t just met expectations it has exceeded them. "Of the major networks, it?s the only one that can bring in younger audiences on a regular basis," Adgate said. "They have brought out some breakthrough shows ... They?ve really done things that the other three networks wouldn?t have done with their programming," Adgate told AP.

Garth Ancier, Fox?s inaugural programming chief, said the challenge for the network was how to attract audiences in a different way from NBC, ABC and CBS and drag them over to an alternative.

MUMBAI: The BBC has announced a new deal to launch BBC World News, in markets across the US through Comcast‘s Xfinity TV.

By the end of 2011, the channel will be available in Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Portland, as well as across Northern California, Michigan and Western New England. BBC World News will launch in additional Comcast markets next year.

BBC World News has the largest audience of any BBC channel in the world, broadcasting in over 200 countries and territories worldwide with access to more than 70 international newsgathering bureaus globally. BBC World News is expected to be in nearly 15 million US homes by end of 2012.

The channel will bring US audiences high-quality international news, as well as documentaries, lifestyle programs and interviews. Its programming includes the daily newscast, BBC World News America, anchored by Katty Kay.

BBC‘s director of global news Peter Horrocks called the agreement "one of the most important breakthroughs for the BBC‘s international commercial news channel, as it extends its global footprint."

"This deal represents huge progress for BBC World News in the most competitive television marketplace in the world. We know that US viewers increasingly value the smart and impartial international journalism provided by the BBC.

"The BBC and BBC World News are uniquely positioned to offer this via our multilingual, multimedia journalists based around the world. From the changing markets in Europe and Asia to coverage of the Middle East, we know our audiences highly value this global perspective. We will aim to bring Comcast viewers the best of BBC journalism, providing trusted information and in-depth global analysis."

BBC Worldwide America executive VP network distribution Sandy Ashendorf said, "The BBC is renowned for its journalistic integrity and audiences are increasingly hungry for an impartial view on global affairs. We are pleased that XfinityTV is bringing its customers a new and fresh perspective through these BBC World News channel launches. We think this is a significant step towards changing the conversation about news in the US."

Comcast senior VP, GM of video services Marcien Jenckes said, "Our goal is to bring Xfinity TV customers the best and most-current content, and the addition of BBC World News to our line-up is a perfect example of how that is being accomplished.

"We‘re continually enhancing our Xfinity TV service and are pleased to be able to work with the BBC to provide a broad array of international programming to meet the diverse interests of our customers."

The announcement comes as the BBC is strengthening its focus on news targeted for the US.

Earlier this month, it announced the appointment of Dick Meyer as Executive Producer for the BBC‘s news services in America. He will take direct editorial oversight of television and online content produced for US audiences, and coordinate coverage across all platforms, including BBC World News.

MUMBAI: English GEC Zee Cafe will air the sitcom, ?Mike and Molly?, from 13 September.

The daily series will show Monday-Friday at 11 pm.

Set in Chicago, Illinois, the series follows two people, Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell), a police officer who wants to shed some pounds, and Molly Flynn (Melissa McCarthy), a fourth-grade teacher wanting to embrace her curves, who meet at an Overeaters Anonymous group and become an unlikely pair.

The sitcom is a love story. It?s about two people, ordinary yet extraordinary, who have always protected themselves and relied on their ability to laugh through life. Now, with the help of each other -- and the Overeaters Anonymous meeting where they met -- they are learning to open up and trust one another.

But falling in love is no easy task, especially when surrounded by friends and family who are just a little too close -- and a little too opinionated. However, they also have to deal with the comments, jokes, and criticism from Mike?s fast-talking partner Carl McMillan (Reno Wilson) and his witty sarcastic mother Peggy (Rondi Reed), Molly?s slim, promiscuous sister Victoria (Katy Mixon) and nymphomaniac mother Joyce (Swoosie Kurtz), Samuel (Nyambi Nyambi), a Senegalese waiter at the officers? favourite restaurant, and Vince, Molly?s mother?s boyfriend, with a smart tongue. Mike also gets some dating advice from Carl?s grandmother Nana.