WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is looking into complaints that a new television show based on superhero characters first created to market Skechers shoes to kids would violate government rules that limit advertising in children’s programming.
The FCC is seeking public comment on a petition filed last week by the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood seeking to block the cartoon series “Zevo-3,” which premieres Oct. 11 on the cable network Nicktoons. The Boston-based group says the program would violate a requirement in federal law that cable companies air no more than 12 minutes of commercial material per hour of children’s programming, and FCC rules mandating a separation between commercial content and programming.
It says the characters — Kewl Breeze, Elastika and Z-Strap, who battle evil Dr. Stankfoot — promote specific lines of shoes. The Associated Press
