Nipples for 550 000 $

The Federal Communications Commission is set to impose a record $US550,000 indecency fine against CBS-owned stations for their broadcast of singer Janet Jackson's breast-bearing incident during January's Super Bowl, the Washington Post reports.

The newspaper report, which cited unnamed FCC sources, said on Saturday the agency was expected to vote unanimously for the fine, which would be the largest levied against a television broadcaster.

The amount represents a $27,500 fine for each of the 20 television stations owned by CBS, which in turn is owned by Viacom Inc, the paper said.

The decision could be released as early as next week, the paper said. Excluded from the fines are CBS's more than 200 affiliate stations, which also aired the half-time show during the National Football League championship game.

''We would be extremely disappointed,'' CBS said in a statement issued to the newspaper.

''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.''

CBS chief Les Moonves vowed in July that he will fight any fines imposed by the FCC. "We're going to take that to the courts if it happens," he said, declaring that the fines would be "perilously dangerous."

Nipplegate continues ?