The Federal Communications Commission fined Viacom $550,000 for its broadcast of an incident during the halftime show at the Feb. 1 Super Bowl when performer Janet Jackson’s breast was exposed.
The commission determined that the nudity violated broadcast indecency standards. It imposed the maximum allowable fine of $27,500 on each of the 20 CBS television stations owned by Viacom.
CBS affiliate stations were spared from the imposition of fines because of the unexpected nature of the incident and the fact that they were not involved in the planning of halftime show telecast.
The FCC issued the Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture Aug. 31 and made its action public Sept. 22.
For more information visit www.fcc.gov.
