FCC fines CBS $550,000 over "nipplegate"

As expected, America's communications regulator - the FCC - has hit Viacom's CBS network with a $550,000 fine over Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" during the Super Bowl half-time show.

The $550,000 fine is composed of $27,500 fines handed out to each CBS owned and operated station. The FCC chose not to fine non-CBS owned affiliates of the network.

"No television event has ever received as many complaints from the American public -- over 540,000 -- as the Super Bowl XXXVIII half-time show produced by CBS," said FCC chairman Michael Powell. "Indecency determinations, however, must be made cautiously and with appropriate restraint."

CBS has vowed to fight any fine imposed by the FCC, and on Wednesday said it was reviewing options for an appeal.

"We are extremely disappointed in the ruling," the network said in a statement. "While we regret that the incident occurred and have apologised to our viewers, we continue to believe that nothing in the Super Bowl broadcast violated indecency laws. Furthermore, our investigation proved that no one in our company had any advance knowledge about the incident."