New York cabs ban ads

A campaign to advertise South Park on New York cabs has been banned by city chiefs who thought it was tasteless.

Comedy Central planned to emblazon several cabs with pictures of Kyle, Stan and Cartman to promote the show's sixth series, which launches in the US on November 6.

But taxi chiefs said the cartoons, including one of Kyle breaking wind - could not go ahead.

Comedy Central said licensing authorities were initially "very interested" in the campaign but backed off citing "questionable" issues with the artists' impressions.

But taxi commissioner Matthew Daus told the New York Post: "We have not authorised any wraps on the side of cabs, regardless of the content. We want our yellow cabs to look yellow."

Comedy Central's Aileen Budow added: "We were very excited to be the network that would launch this pilot program - but we were upset and disheartened when we learned it was the content rather than the design that killed it."

Published: 23 Oct 2002