Turner Broadcasting to Pay $2 Million in Cartoon Network Bomb Scare

Turner Broadcasting Systems and Interference Inc have agreed to pay $2 million in compensation for the advertising campaign that caused so much fear from the people of Boston last Wednesday.

Mass. Attorney General Martha Coakley said this will resolve any potential civil or criminal claims against Turner and Interference Inc.

On Wednesday, Boston authorities feared bombs had been planted when they found more than three dozen blinking electronic signs with a boxy cartoon character giving an obscene hand gesture. In reality the signs where merely part of a publicity campaign for Cartoon Network's "Aqua Teen Hunger Force." The signs also appeared in nine other large U.S. cities in recent weeks, but created little interest from the less fearful residents of those cities.

As part of the settlement, $1 million will be used to reimburse the agencies and $1 million will be used to fund homeland security and other programs. Turner Broadcasting, a division of Time Warner Inc., and Interference Inc. also will issue a public statement accepting full responsibility and apologizing for the incident.

"Last week's events caused a major disruption in the greater Boston area on many levels - crippling public transportation, causing serious traffic problems, negatively affecting local businesses and perhaps most significantly, costing Boston and surrounding communities thousands of dollars," Coakley said.

"We are fortunate that no one was injured," Coakley said. "We hope that this painful lesson will not be lived or learned again either by the communities involved or ... Turner Broadcasting and Interference."

Turner issued a statement again taking responsibility for the "unconventional marketing tactic" and apologizing for hardships it caused for residents.

"We understand now that in today's post-Sept. 11 environment, it was reasonable and appropriate for citizens and law enforcement officials to take any perceived threat posed by our light boards very seriously and to respond as they did," the statement said.

The company said it was reviewing its policies concerning local marketing efforts and strategies to ensure that they are not disruptive or perceived as threatening.

Authorities say two men were paid to hang the signs around the city. Peter Berdovsky, 27, and Sean Stevens, 28, have pleaded not guilty to placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct.

Coakley said prosecutors were in discussions with the men's attorneys to resolve the charges before a trial.

Coakley said she did not know how the two companies would divide responsibility for the payment, which was being wired to the attorney general Monday.

(AP, Reuters, Boston Globe)