FCC, CBS Reach Consent Decree Over Wing Bowl Dispute

The FCC and CBS RADIO have entered a consent decree settling the controversy over a contestant's disqualification from Sports WIP-A/PHILADELPHIA's WING BOWL 13 eating competition in DECEMBER 2004.  The contestant was disqualified for being a member of a professional competitive eating association other than the one working with the station on the annual event, basing the disqualification on an unannounced contest rule.  CBS had appealed the $4,000 fine but the Commission in AUGUST rejected its petition for reconsideration, saying that CBS raised no new issues nor demonstrated a material error or omission in the original order.

Under the consent decree, CBS will pay a "voluntary contribution" of $4,000 to the U.S. Treasury.

In another case, the FCC has fined SAGA Classic Rock WAQY (ROCK 102)/SPRINGFIELD, MA $4,000 for not delivering prizes from a 2005 contest in a timely manner.  While promptness is not an enumerated standard for contests in the FCC rules, the Commission ruled that references to awarding prizes "within a reasonable time" in previous rulemaking notices indicates that promptness has been established as an agency precedent.

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