‘Deal’ takes a fall The heart-stopping news that “Deal or No Deal” will air in syndication starting next fall actually arrived here last Friday. But it was ap pended with the all-impor tant “embargo”- and God forbid you break that and change the course of human history as we know it. Millions of lives could be ruined. (Full disclosure: I broke a few wire-story embargoes years ago and lived to tell the tale. Is there a statute of limitations on such an unconscionable crime?)

Anyway, the syndicated half-hour “Deal” will, like its prime-time cousin, be hosted by Howie Mandel and will air here on Ch. 4. Last, but not least: * On tonight’s “SNY Spot light” (7 p.m.): Gary Apple sits down with NBC’s Tiki Barber.

* Dan Rather in terviews the Dalai Lama on tomorrow’s “Dan Rather Re ports” (8 p.m./ HDNet).

* Radio: John Batchelor is back at WABC (770 AM) to host the 7-10 Sunday-night shift. And John Gabriel’s “Hollywood to Broadway” kicks off this month with guest Carol Burnett.

* “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” bowed on USA last Thursday night to 3.8 million viewers – the day’s most- watched cable show.

* Beth Ostrosky subs today on Yahoo’s “The 9.”

* Ann Curry, Silda Wall Spitzer, Bobbi Brown panel tomorrow at More maga zine’s “Reinvention Conven tion” (Pier Sixty).

* “Postman Pat” has crossed the pond; the ani mated mailman and his side kick, Jess the Cat, can now be seen Saturday mornings on NBC (Ch. 4) and on Tele mundo (Ch. 47).

* Comcast’s ziddio.com looking for a homegrown co median. Entries can be sub mitted through Oct. 22. Win ner yuks it up at The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas.