Pop singer Janet Jackson's bare breast flash earlier this year during the nationally televised Super Bowl football game will cost the CBS television network a record $550,000 for violating indecency rules, US communications regulators said today.
As expected, the Federal Communications Commission said it has officially voted to fine the 20 stations owned by the CBS television network, a unit of conglomerate Viacom Incorporation, $27,500 each for airing the incident.
"The US Constitution is generous in its protection of free expression, but it is not a license to thrill," said FCC Chairman Mr Michael Powell.
"The context of the halftime show leads us to conclude that the breast-baring finale was intended." Jackson's fellow singer Justin Timberlake ripped her costume, briefly exposing her bejeweled breast during the halftime show at the National Football League's championship game on February 1st, sparking about 542,000 complaints filed with the FCC.
The agency decided against fining the other 200-plus CBS affiliates that aired the show but are not owned by the network, stating that they were not involved in the planning, selection or approval of the halftime festivities. In addition to owning the CBS television network, Viacom also owns the MTV network, which was involved in producing the halftime show.