Mtv - Mexico's South Park Episode Scrapped

MTV bosses have avoided a massive fine from Mexican authorities by scrapping the broadcast of a controversial episode of hit U.S. series SOUTH PARK.

The animated installment, which pokes fun at Mexico's President, Felipe Calderon, was due to air in Spanish on Monday night (18Feb10) on MTV's Latin American channel.

But the broadcast was cancelled at the last minute, with TV chiefs claiming they failed to apply for a special permit needed to feature an image of the Mexican flag, which appears in a scene with the president.

Mexican law protects the use of the country's national emblem, with heavy fines for those who break the rules.

A spokesman for MTV Mexico, Erick Zermeno, tells BBC News, "We decided not to alter the image because the reaction would have been worse."

He also revealed the episode will be shown in its entirety once MTV bosses receive the required permit.

In 2007, Mexican pop star Paulina Rubio was fined for appearing naked on the cover of a Spanish magazine draped in the flag.