US$550 000 fine for Jackson boob flash

WASHINGTON – That brief glimpse of Janet Jackson’s breast during the Super Bowl could cost 20 television stations owned by Viacom Inc. a total of US$550 000, sources familiar with the federal regulatory case said ON Wednesday.

During the National Football League’s Super Bowl halftime show in February, Jackson’s costume was ripped away by fellow singer Justin Timberlake, briefly exposing her breast and sparking a public outcry. The move accompanied their performance of a song that concludes with the lyric: “I gotta have you naked by the end of this song.” Flooded with complaints, the Federal Communications Commission staff have proposed commissioners fine Viacom Inc.’s 20 CBS television stations US$27 500 each for a total of US$550 000, said a source familiar with the case.The staff did not recommend fining the 227 other CBS affiliate stations that aired the show but are not owned by Viacom, the sources said.The recommendation is circulating among the five FCC commissioners, who could take weeks to reach a decision.”We have received no formal notification of any such decision or ruling,” said CBS spokesman Gil Schwartz.The Super Bowl garnered almost 90 million viewers, the most since 1998, and Viacom raked in an average of US$2,3 million per 30-second commercial.The media conglomerate posted a US$711 million profit in the first quarter.The halftime show was produced by another arm of Viacom, its MTV music television network.Network and NFL officials were hauled before Congress to answer for the flash, which lasted about half a second.Viacom apologised but said no one at the company or the CBS and MTV networks knew in advance about what Timberlake called the “wardrobe malfunction”.It pledged to use a mechanism that causes a brief delay in the broadcast of live events.The Parents Television Council said the FCC should take action against other parts of the halftime show, such as some dance moves and language, to put all affiliate stations on notice for the future.”Down the road, especially when it’s something that would give affiliates caution, like some form of entertainment or taped programming, they should be held accountable,” said Laura Mahaney, a spokeswoman for the organisation.Federal rules bar radio and television broadcasters from airing obscene material.They are also limited to broadcasting indecent content to late night hours when children are less likely to be listening.- Nampa-ReutersThe move accompanied their performance of a song that concludes with the lyric: “I gotta have you naked by the end of this song.” Flooded with complaints, the Federal Communications Commission staff have proposed commissioners fine Viacom Inc.’s 20 CBS television stations US$27 500 each for a total of US$550 000, said a source familiar with the case.The staff did not recommend fining the 227 other CBS affiliate stations that aired the show but are not owned by Viacom, the sources said.The recommendation is circulating among the five FCC commissioners, who could take weeks to reach a decision.”We have received no formal notification of any such decision or ruling,” said CBS spokesman Gil Schwartz.The Super Bowl garnered almost 90 million viewers, the most since 1998, and Viacom raked in an average of US$2,3 million per 30-second commercial.The media conglomerate posted a US$711 million profit in the first quarter.The halftime show was produced by another arm of Viacom, its MTV music television network.Network and NFL officials were hauled before Congress to answer for the flash, which lasted about half a second.Viacom apologised but said no one at the company or the CBS and MTV networks knew in advance about what Timberlake called the “wardrobe malfunction”.It pledged to use a mechanism that causes a brief delay in the broadcast of live events.The Parents Television Council said the FCC should take action against other parts of the halftime show, such as some dance moves and language, to put all affiliate stations on notice for the future.”Down the road, especially when it’s something that would give affiliates caution, like some form of entertainment or taped programming, they should be held accountable,” said Laura Mahaney, a spokeswoman for the organisation.Federal rules bar radio and television broadcasters from airing obscene material.They are also limited to broadcasting indecent content to late night hours when children are less likely to be listening.- Nampa-Reuters