Boob flash costs TV network
2004-09-23 07:31
Washington - The US government's media watchdog on Wednesday slapped CBS television with a $550 000 (about R3.5m) fine for broadcasting pop star Janet Jackson's breast to millions of people during the Super Bowl football championship.
More than 540 000 complaints poured in to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) after Jackson's breast was revealed when singer Justin Timberlake pulled a piece of her bodice during the Super Bowl half-time show on February 1, the regulator said.
The $550 000 fine is the stiffest penalty the agency can levy against CBS, which has 30 days to contest the FCC's findings.
The revealing of Jackson's breast, dubbed "nipplegate", for a few seconds on national television at an event watched by some 90 million viewers sparked an uproar across the country, while networks began imposing delays during live events to avoid another scandal.
"Countless families gathered around the television to watch one of our nation's most celebrated events," FCC Chairman Michael Powell said in a statement.
"Nudity, while not necessarily indecent itself, certainly should raise a red flag for a broadcaster contemplating its airing during the hours in which the law restricts indecency because children are likely in the audience," Powell said.
Latest setback for CBS
CBS, a unit of Viacom, can pay the fine and appeal, but if it refuses "the case may be brought to the Department of Justice", an FCC spokesperson said.
"'Anything goes' is not an acceptable mantra for those that elect to earn their profit using the public's airwaves," Powell said.
"No television event has ever received as many complaints from the American public," he added.
In February, Powell promised a thorough investigation on the incident to a congressional committee and urged broadcasters to crack down on indecency in order "to curb the race to the bottom".
The proposed fine is the latest setback for CBS, whose news division is embroiled in a controversy over its use of questionable documents in a report critical of President George W Bush's military record.
CBS said in a statement that it was "extremely disappointed in the (FCC) ruling".
"While we regret that the incident occurred and have apologised to our viewers, we continue to believe that nothing in the Super Bowl broadcast violated indecency laws," CBS said.
"Furthermore, our investigation proved that no one in our company had any advance knowledge about the incident," it said, adding that it was reviewing its options to respond to the ruling.