HBO schedules bonus season of hit "Sopranos"

NEW YORK - Cable network HBO says it will produce eight bonus episodes of its hit mob drama "The Sopranos" to air in 2007 in a surprise move likely to delight fans of hot-tempered crime boss Tony Soprano.

The much-anticipated sixth season of "The Sopranos," scheduled to debut in the US is March 2006 with 12 episodes, was expected to wrap up the often violent and darkly comic saga of Tony and his family, although creator David Chase had hinted that viewers might not have to say goodbye just yet.

Time Warner Inc.'s HBO did not elaborate on future storylines. The Emmy-award winning show first aired in 1999 but has not followed a regular season launch schedule, with its last season wrapping up more than one year ago.

- REUTERS