CBS to fight fines for Janet Jackson's Super Bowl flash

by Staff,, Brand Republic 19-Jul-04, 16:00

NEW YORK - CBS has said it will fight a possible $550,000 fine against its television stations after Janet Jackson exposed her nipple to 90m people during her Super Bowl performance earlier this year.

CBS, which owns 20 TV stations, could face a Federal Communications Commission fine of $550,000 (£294,000), or $27,500 for each of its channels, after the commission was bombarded by more than 500,000 complaints about Jackson's live performance in February.

Lesley Moonves, co-president and co-chief operating officer for parent company Viacom, told the Television Critics Association yesterday that a fine would be "grossly unfair".

He went on to say that the network's practices department that monitor programme content "is being maybe a little tougher especially on things that we feel are gratuitous".

Since the incident, CBS has added a five-second precautionary delay for any live event.

The FCC has stepped up its anti-indecency enforcement and the US Senate and House have gone on record seeking higher penalties for indecency.

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