May 19, 2004

NEW YORK -- With its star facing a possible prison sentence, the ''Martha Stewart Living'' television show will be put on hiatus after the current season winds up, the show's producers announced Tuesday.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. also announced related staff cuts within the television business segment, and said it will post a restructuring charge of up to $2 million in the second quarter.

Production of the award-winning syndicated television show will continue for the remainder of the 11th season, through September. But the 12th season will be on hiatus until the legal woes of Stewart, the company's founder and former CEO, are resolved.

Stewart was convicted March 5 of lying about why she sold shares of ImClone Systems stock in 2001, just before the price plunged on a negative government report. Stewart is scheduled to be sentenced June 17, and faces 10 to 16 months in prison. AP