CBS Corp officials were in court Friday, asking an appeals court to overturn a Federal Communications Commission decision to fine the broadcaster for showing Janet Jackson’s breast during the 2004 Super Bowl.
In a statement, the network said it was sorry for the incident in which Jackson stripped off part of her top to reveal her right breast.
“We disagree strongly with the FCC’s conclusions and will continue to pursue all remedies necessary to affirm our legal rights,” the company wrote.
“CBS has apologized to the American people for the inappropriate and unexpected half-time incident and immediately implemented safeguards that have governed similar broadcasts ever since.”
CBS was required to pay the $550,000 fine in order to appeal case before the FCC, it said.
The Network is also facing a fine by the agency against it and its affiliates for airing a 2004 episode of the show “Without a Trace” which involved references to a teenage orgy and flashback sequences of young people in sexually suggestive positions, but with no nudity.
According to the FCC, indecent material is defined as that which contains sexual or excretory material that is not deemed obscene.
With more emphasis put on indecent material, total FCC fines have increased from just below $500,000 in 2003 to nearly $8 million in 2004.
By law, on-air television and radio broadcasters are prohibited from airing obscene material and are banned from broadcasting indecent material between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
