Date:11/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/11/stories/2007021101191800.htm

International

Stunt at Cartoon Network channel

Atlanta: The head of the Cartoon Network has resigned after a marketing stunt went awry, causing a terrorism scare in Boston and leading police to call in the bomb squad.

Blinking electronic devices had been planted around 10 U.S. cities in a guerilla marketing campaign to promote the cartoon `Aqua Teen Hunger Force,' but the Boston police got a series of 911 calls about the suspicious devices last month and feared that the circuit boards could be explosives.

In an internal memo sent to staff members, Jim Samples said he regretted what had happened. "It's my hope that my decision allows us to put this chapter behind us and get back to our mission of delivering unrivalled original animated entertainment for consumers of all ages," he said. He said he felt "compelled to step down... in recognition of the gravity of the situation that occurred under my watch." — AP