FOX TV Stations Fined for Racy Scenes on "Married by America"

FOX TV Stations Fined for Racy Scenes on "Married by America" 2/25/08

U.S. broadcasting regulators have fined 13 Fox TV stations for showing an episode of Married by America which was said to contain "graphic bachelor party scenes".

In 2004 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed a $1.2 million penalty against 169 affiliates of Fox Broadcasting Co. that aired the since-cancelled reality show in April 2003.

But the agency has now decided to fine stations which received complaints about the "explicitly sexual" episode - handing out $7,000 penalties to 13 individual organizations in cities including Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.

The dating program - which featured 12 single men and women - aimed to match make the stars by letting the audience at home put together couples via a phone vote.

Scott Grogin, a spokesman for Fox, insists the footage was not overly explicit and the company is planning further legal action to contest the decision.

He says, "Fox strongly disagrees with the commission's conclusions in the notice and we will be actively considering our options."

It is the second time in a month the FCC has slapped a heavy fine on a U.S.

TV network. Earlier this month (Feb08) the organization refused to overturn a ruling against ABC - landing the company with a $1.2 million bill for depicting illicit nude scenes in an episode of NYPD Blue.