Are these characters done causing trouble?

Turner Broadcasting just agreed to pay $85,000 to the city of San Francisco for any problems generated by a guerrilla ad campaign that used high-tech signs to project Aqua Teen Hunger Force characters making obscene gestures. A similar promotion in Boston sparked a daylong bomb scare, generated a $2 million payout and cost Cartoon Network CEO Jim Samples his job. It’s tough to get an exact read, but the Aqua Teen movie appears to have taken in roughly $5.4 million at the box office, so Turner may still come out ahead. Unless, of course, the other cities where the promotion ran decide to seek settlements. Let’s see, there’s New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Ore., Austin, Texas, and Philadelphia. Strange, no sequel’s been announced.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

May 18, 2007 | Permalink