FCC CRACKS DOWN ON VIDEO NEWS RELEASES ON CABLE

The Federal Communications Commission, which rarely monitors the content of cable TV shows, indicated Tuesday that it might fine Comcast $4,000 for airing a video news release without disclosing who had provided it. The video in question was included in Comcast's CN8 newscast, seen in 20 markets; it touted the benefits of an herbal tonic sold under the name of Nelson's Rescue Sleep, which, according to the video, were more effective than sleeping pills. Sena Fitzmaurice, a spokeswoman for Comcast, responded, "The relevant statute does not cover cable programming, and even if it did, CN8's programming was entirely consistent with the statute."

26/09/2007