FCC To Pursue 2003 Indecency Case Against News Corp

FCC TO PURSUE 2003 INDECENCY CASE AGAINST NEWS CORP
[SOURCE: DowJones, AUTHOR: Corey Boles corey.boles@dowjones.com]
The Federal Communications Commission is expected to shortly take the next step in an indecency enforcement action against News Corp. over a 2003 episode of a short-lived reality TV show. The Commission had set a $1.2 million fine soon after the episode of "Married By America" was broadcast on the Fox network in April 2003. Now it must act by April 7, the five-year anniversary of the program's airing, in order to collect the fine from News Corp., which owns Dow Jones, publisher of this newswire. The relatively modest level of the penalty is due to the fact the show was broadcast before Congress in 2006 substantially increased the levels of fines the FCC can impose over indecency infractions. The episode in question involved the airing of nudity, although some images were distorted through pixelation. The FCC ruled that it was still considered indecent. The FCC will issue a notice of forfeiture in the next few days to pursue payment of the fine, said agency officials.
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200802201950DOWJONESDJONLINE000879_FORTUNE5.htm