FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         CIV
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1995                             (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

     JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACTS TO KEEP CIGARETTE ADS OFF CAMERA


       WASHINGTON, D.C.--  In its first lawsuit to prevent the
circumventing of Congress' 1971 ban on broadcast advertising of
cigarettes, the Justice Department today reached an agreement
with New York's Madison Square Garden to remove cigarette signs
from locations that the Department contends were strategically
selected to be seen on televised sports coverage.
       The Justice Department accused Madison Square Garden of
violating the Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act by
displaying a large Marlboro cigarettes sign directly in front of
the scorers' table during televised Knicks games.  Madison Square
Garden owns both the New York Knickerbockers of the National
Basketball Association and the New York Rangers of the National
Hockey League.
       Frank W. Hunger, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil
Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Mary Jo White,
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
announced the filing of a complaint and consent decree.  Although
Madison Square Garden did not admit wrongdoing, it did consent to 
the entry of today's decree.  
       Hunger and White said the consent decree would prohibit
the Garden from displaying cigarette signs on or immediately
adjacent to the playing area or walkways to the locker rooms
during televised events.  The agreement bars the placement of
cigarette signs at any spot "regularly in a camera's focus"
during the telecast of sports or entertainment events from the
Garden.
       "Operators of entertainment and sports arenas should be
aware of their responsibiities under the law, " said White.  "I
am happy to report that Madison Square Garden removed the sign
during the course of our discussions."
       "It was Congress' wish that broadcast audiences,
especially young people, be protected from a barrage of
advertising inducing them to smoke," said Hunger.  "Its goal
should be respected."
       The complaint and consent decree were filed in U.S.
District Court in Manhattan.

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