Friday, February 6, 2009

(02-06) 06:56 PST Pittsburgh (AP) --

The Federal Communications Commission has fined the CBS radio affiliate in Pittsburgh $6,000 for a talk show prank promising $1 million to a caller.

The FCC says KDKA host Marty Griffin told listeners the money was in a briefcase handcuffed to someone in the studio.

The money was promised to the 13th caller on Thanksgiving 2007. That listener called in and stayed on hold for 45 minutes thinking he had won the money.

CBS argued the offer was "preposterous" and clearly a joke. But FCC investigations chief Hillary DeNigro said Thursday that Griffin misled listeners by calling the contest "the real deal."

KDKA has 30 days to pay the fine or appeal. Michael Young, the station's senior vice president and general manager, had no comment.

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Information from: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette