Media Notes

The FCC rejected an appeal over the $550,000 fine levied against CBS for Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, “finding that the network didn’t do enough to protect viewers.” The FCC also proposed a $3.6M fine against CBS for an episode of “Without a Trace” that featured a sexually suggestive scene with teenagers. The amount is a record fine against a single TV show. CBS in a statement said that it “disagrees with the FCC about its fines ... and suggested it would take the FCC to court over the matter” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/16). The FCC also found then-Vikings WR Randy Moss pretending to pull down his pants during a touchdown celebration in an ‘05 game against the Packers “was not indecent enough ... to fine Fox affiliates” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/16).

WORLD HUNGER: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports fans “have e-mailed their complaints” to MLB about the fact that ESPN and ESPN2 “have not shown every game of the World Baseball Classic.” Negotiations to carry the WBC were completed “well after schedules were cemented on ESPN and ESPN2.” MLB Exec VP/Business Tim Brosnan: “This is the first time out. We don’t own the distribution.” ESPN/ABC Sports Senior VP/Programming & Acquisitions Len DeLuca said, “We’d prefer that all games be on ESPN and ESPN2. ... [But] there was no place to put those World Baseball Classic games live.” Sandomir writes it is "possible, based on the ratings, that whoever acquires the event [in '09] will pay more than the $5[M] ESPN did" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/16).

PLAYING FOOTSIE: For the ’06 FIFA World Cup, ESPN will air 21 games, ESPN2 31 and ABC 12 games including the title match on July 9. All 64 games will be available in HD. ESPN and ESPN2 during the tournament will air “World Cup Live,” a news, highlights and analysis studio show. The networks will adhere to the traditional practice of not airing commercials during soccer game action (THE DAILY).