FCC fines CBS $550,000 for breast flash

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- The Federal Communications Commission imposed a $550,000 fine on Viacom Inc. companies Wednesday for showing Janet Jackson's breast during the Super Bowl.

At the end of Jackson's performance during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston last February, singer Justin Timberlake pulled off part of her costume, exposing her right breast, which was adorned with a piece of jewelry.

In a statement Wednesday, the commission said Jackson's "partial nudity was, in the context of the broadcast, in apparent violation of the broadcast indecency standard."

The commission voted unanimously to impose the maximum fine, $27,500, on each Viacom-owned CBS station that carried the telecast because Viacom and CBS were involved in "the planning and approval of the telecast," and because Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting Corp. radio stations have a "history of indecency violations."

CBS issued a statement saying it was disappointed with the ruling.

"While we regret that the incident occurred and have apologized to our viewers, we continue to believe that nothing in the Super Bowl broadcast violated indecency laws," the statement said.

Viacom executive Leslie Moonves has said a fine would be "grossly unfair" and would be challenged in court.