Turner To Pay for Costs of Disastrous Marketing Campaign

TURNER TO PAY COSTS FOR DISASTROUS MARKETING CAMPAIGN
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The office of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino confirms that Turner Broadcasting has agreed to pay for the costs associated with its guerilla marketing campaign gone awry. A figure of $1 million has been reported, but the Mayor's office could not confirm that at press time, and Turner said it could not confirm the payment either. Two of the guerilla marketers face charges, and the Department of Homeland Security has registered its displeasure. Turner, a Time Warner Company, has apologized, saying it recognized the seriousness of the incident. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) Thursday sent a letter to the chairmen of the Federal Trade Commission and FCC asking them to make sure the city gets reimbursed, though it is unclear what power they would have to do so.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6412903?display=Breaking+News

* Kerry Asked Feds To Insure Turner Payments
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6413090?display=Breaking+News

* What Was Turner Thinking?
Turner lost face, but may have won in the end. Even though executives insist they didn't intend to spark an uproar with the guerilla campaign for Aqua Teen Hunger Force, the series featuring anthropomorphic fast food items, the company nonetheless gained tens of millions of dollars in free publicity for Cartoon Network and its late-night Adult Swim block, which is available in more than 91 million U.S. cable and satellite homes. Its marginal cost? A $1 million payment to Boston for its troubles, it looked like at week’s end.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6413209.html?display=Top+Stories