Boston Mayor Seeks Legal Action Against Turner for Marketing Stunt

BOSTON, February 1: Thomas Menino, the Mayor of Boston, has
said that the city is prepared to take legal action against Turner Broadcasting
System over the Cartoon Network marketing ploy that was mistaken for a bomb
threat yesterday.

The city of Boston was disrupted yesterday after the
discovery of a series of blinking electronic signs on bridges and other
locations. The devices promoted the closure of a highway and the deployment of
bomb squads. They were in fact part of a promotional effort for the new season
of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, a popular
series about a talking milkshake, a box of French fries and a meatball that
airs as part of Cartoon Network’s late-night Adult Swim young adult-skewing block. The foot-tall signs
resembled a circuit board, depicting a cartoon character in lights. The
promotion has been in place for two to three weeks in ten cities across the
U.S., including Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Chicago. After the uproar
yesterday in Boston, Turner ordered Interference, the marketing company behind
the campaign, to remove all the devices.

"It is outrageous, in a post 9/11 world, that a company
would use this type of marketing scheme," Menino is quoted as saying in an
AP report. "I am prepared to take any and all legal action against Turner
Broadcasting and its affiliates for any and all expenses incurred during the
response to today's incidents." The stunt reportedly cost Boston $750,000
yesterday.

The AP cited Philip Kent, the chairman and CEO of Turner
Broadcasting System, as saying: "We apologize to the citizens of Boston
that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger.”

"Everyone can play a part by holding Turner
Broadcasting to account for today's events," Suffolk District Attorney
Daniel Conley told the AP. "Viewers, advertisers, license holders, can and
should make clear to them this sort of behavior is reckless, irresponsible and
illegal. Commerce was disrupted, transportation routes were paralyzed, residents
were stranded and relatives across the nation were in fear for their loved ones
in the city of Boston.”

Peter Berdovsky and Sean Stevens, who were hired to place
the devices in the city, were both arrested yesterday and charged with one
count of placing a hoax device and one count of disorderly conduct. They were
released on a $2,500 bond.

Attorney General Martha Coakley is said to be looking into
criminal charges against Turner, wire reports note. "We're not going to
let this go without looking at the further roots of how this happened to cause
the panic in this city.”