Media Bureau Settles More Hot Wheels Appeals
The FCC Media Bureau has reached consent decrees with two more broadcasters that appealed forfeitures involving children’s programming violations related to Hot Wheels toys, according to a pair of orders released Friday. The additional settlements were with Second Generation of Iowa and several stations owned by the Sinclair-affiliated Deerfield Media. As in the other settlements with smaller broadcasters (see 2507180066), they won’t pay a penalty and will have their licenses renewed. Deerfield and Second Generation had faced fines of $20,000 per station.
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The FCC reached a $500,000 settlement in June with Sinclair, which had faced a $2.6 million penalty over the same incident (see 2506300064). All the violations involved were connected to multiple airings of an ad for Hot Wheels toys during a Hot Wheels-themed TV program. Under the terms of the settlements, Deerfield and Second Generation also must develop compliance and training plans and self-report noncompliance for two years.