It turns out that using emergency warning tones in a TV commercial with images of the White House blowing up and the flashing words "THIS IS NOT A TEST" is frowned upon by the government.
The Federal Communications Commission said Monday it was fining three media giants $1.9 million for using the official warning tones in an ad for the movie "Olympus Has Fallen" that had some complainants jumping out of bathtubs and racing to the TV screen.
The companies have 30 days to contest the fines or pay up.
The ad aired 108 times on Viacom Inc. networks like BET and Comedy Central, 38 times on NBCUniversal channels like USA and SyFy and 13 times on The Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN in March 2013.
Viacom said in a statement it "regrets the airing of the advertisement" and is no longer accepting ads that use the signal, which is part of the nationwide Emergency Alert System. ESPN said it is assessing the FCC notice.
Actor Emilio Estevez announces the filming of Young Guns 3 will start in New Mexico, during Film and Media Day at the Legislature, Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Santa Fe, N.M. (Eddie Moore/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
It's been almost 40 years since Emilio Estevez first drew his revolver as Billy the Kid in the iconic Western "Young Guns."
The actor visited the New Mexico State Capitol on Thursday during Film and Media Day to announce that he'll be coming back to where it all started to film the next installment in the franchise. He will direct "Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive" and will star again as the famous outlaw. The cast also includes original members Lou Diamond Phillips and Christian Slater.
Estevez said during a news conference that he's heard jokes about whether the title should be "Old Guns."
The first "Young Guns" premiered in 1988. Its success resulted in a sequel that followed two years later. Both were filmed in New Mexico.
The state has a long history in the movie making business. Its stunning and rugged landscapes were a popular backdrop for Westerns starring John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy and Kirk Douglas. It's now home to production hubs for Netflix and NBCUniversal.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday highlighted "Young Guns" as one of the films that helped to establish the state as a premier filming destination, saying the next one will add to the legacy.
"This production represents exactly what our film incentives are designed to attract — high-quality projects that create jobs for New Mexicans while showcasing our state's extraordinary beauty," she said.
Estevez, 62, said some work already is happening on the film, but officials didn't provide any details on when the cameras could start rolling. The plot also is under wraps, although Estevez and Phillips had hinted in interviews in recent years that it was very possible that the franchise would return to the big screen.
