WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators on Wednesday fined CBS a record $550,000 for Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction," which exposed the singer's breast during the Super Bowl halftime show.

 

 

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to slap each of the 20 CBS-owned television stations with the maximum indecency penalty of $27,500. The total penalty of $550,000 is the largest fine levied against a television broadcaster. Most of the FCC's bigger fines have been against radio stations.

 

 

The agency's five commissioners decided not to fine CBS' more than 200 affiliate stations, which also aired the show but are not owned by the network's parent company, Viacom.

 

 

MTV, a Viacom subsidiary, produced the Feb. 1 halftime show, which featured Jackson and singer Justin Timberlake performing a racy duet. At the end, Timberlake ripped off a piece of Jackson's black leather top, exposing her right breast to a TV audience of about 90 million.

 

 

Timberlake blamed a "wardrobe malfunction," and CBS was quick to apologize to viewers. The breast-baring song generated a record number of complaints to the FCC -- more than 500,000.

 

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=1886685

We can all breathe a little easier tonight knowing Michael Powell and the FCC are hard at work protecting us.

 

I salute you!

 

:usaflag

And all the evangelicals yell a loud AMEN in everyones face.

i feel safer and less offended already.

I'm just glad that the black woman got in trouble for wearing the outfit while the white man who exposed her got off without any controversy. Thank you, FCC. The real patriots.

Jackson didn't get in trouble.

 

Viacom-owned CBS stations (aka CBS O&O's) got in trouble for not using a delay. Not too hard to use a 10 second delay with a dump button like they do for the ACTUAL play-by-play of the sporting event!

 

Here is the press release.

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/atta...OC-252384A1.doc

 

This is for the following stations:

KEYE - Austin

WJZ - Baltimore

WBZ - Boston

WBBM - Chicago

KTVT - Dallas

KCNC - Denver

WWJ - Detroit

WFRV - Green Bay*

KCBS - Los Angeles

WFOR - Miami

WCCO - Minneapolis*

WCBS - New York

KYW - Philadelphia

KDKA - Pittsburgh

KUTV - Salt Lake City*

KPIX - San Francisco

* This station has repeaters and satellites fined as well. (KCCW//WCCO, KCCO//WCCO, KUSG//KUTV, WJMN//WFRV)

Boo

 

I want boobies

Jackson didn't get in trouble.

 

Obviously the government wouldn't come after her, but the general pop-culture guzzling public really attacked her. I just found it odd.

Jackson didn't get in trouble.

 

Obviously the government wouldn't come after her, but the general pop-culture guzzling public really attacked her. I just found it odd.

568696[/snapback]

CBS was at fault for not following the rules. The rules are there and everyone else follows them...why not CBS and Jackson?

What did Jackson do but ahve her boob exposed by TIMBERLAKE? Capefish?

What did Jackson do but ahve her boob exposed by TIMBERLAKE? Capefish?

568706[/snapback]

She said it had been thought of before they came on stage. CBS didn't use the dump button and that got them in trouble.

Maybe you misunderstood what I meant by CBS and Jackson, I mean in the case. Same thing with CBS and Opie & Anthony/Catholic Church.

So CBS should pay $550,000 for not having a 10 second delay capefish? What massive tragedy has occured here because CBS didnt put a ten second delay? A lot of people didnt even see the boob. I know I didnt catch it. Youre really stretching to defend this one.

Being a broadcaster is not a right but a responsiblity. You are resposible for what you air and her boob was spotted because I saw the little star she had on it! I am a minor and I saw her boob clearly on the TV during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Nipples are sooo harmful

Nipples are sooo harmful

568781[/snapback]

and illegal. Come on, you are trying to turn this into a morals debate when it is a policy debate. Showing a boob in TV is in violation of the law.

How about a little practical thought here cape instead of strict defense of policy?

How about a little practical thought here cape instead of strict defense of policy?

568788[/snapback]

is it practical to have soft porn on the Super Bowl halftime show on broadcast TV so all the little ones can see it?

How about a little practical thought here cape instead of strict defense of policy?

568788[/snapback]

is it practical to have soft porn on the Super Bowl halftime show on broadcast TV so all the little ones can see it?

568791[/snapback]

Um...softcore porn? Do you watch normal television?

 

As Im typing this, Im watching Reno 911 and someone says "son of a bitch." :lol

What did Jackson do but ahve her boob exposed by TIMBERLAKE?? Capefish?

568706[/snapback]

She said it had been thought of before they came on stage. CBS didn't use the dump button and that got them in trouble.

568707[/snapback]

I'm just disturbed (but not surprised!) that you implicated Jackson and not Timberlake. And I think we should be allowed to see whatever we want on TV.

What did Jackson do but ahve her boob exposed by TIMBERLAKE? Capefish?

568706[/snapback]

She said it had been thought of before they came on stage. CBS didn't use the dump button and that got them in trouble.

568707[/snapback]

I'm just disturbed (but not surprised!) that you implicated Jackson and not Timberlake. And I think we should be allowed to see whatever we want on TV.

568924[/snapback]

Both Jackson and Timberlake were in the act and both are implicated, I am just talking about the case and didn't want to type out Timberlake. Timberlake has a whole 10 letters.

 

I think we shouldn't have to be subjected to soft porn on broadcast national television during the Super Bowl halftime show.

bewbs are good dood.

bewbs are good dood.

568957[/snapback]

playing devil's advocate here....

but $550,000?

but $550,000?

569039[/snapback]

$27,500 per license. Considering that the Super Bowl has 30 second ad rates of $1 million, it isn't that big of a deal in terms of being over. CBS has been fined several times for radio infractions in the recent years and that added as they were a repeat offender. Opie and Anthony on CBS's WNEW-FM in New York City started this barrage of CBS fines by airing a live broadcast of a couple having sex inside of a New York City Catholic Church. Then CBS got fined for Howard Stern's show along with Clear Channel which led to Clear Channel dumping Stern and most of his non-CBS owned affiliates airing him with frequent bumpings and bumper music to fill in dirty segments. Now this came along and the Memogate thing could get Congress on them which would make CBS really in a big hole because the FCC would not be able to make a settlement as Congress has taken over the investigation.