Where the Mooninite Money Is Going

Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today that the Boston area cut a deal with Turner Broadcasting and Interference, Inc., the brains behind the marketing campaign for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theatres that made life in Boston a little nutty last week.

Boston will receive $2 million dollars for its trouble. In return, Turner Broadcasting and Interference won't face charges. Here's the basic breakdown - $1 million goes to reimbursing state and local law enforcement for their troubles. Another $1 million will go to "goodwill" funds.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of which agency gets what from the attorney general's press release:
State Police - $691,126
Executive Office of Transportation /Mass. Highway Dept. - $45,466
MBTA - $630,396
Massport - $8,380
City of Boston - $484,590
City of Somerville - $69,113
City of Cambridge - $24,794
US Coast Guard - $46,136

Of special note: The MBTA will get $132,772 in additional restitution and $315,198 in "homeland security and community initiative funds." This is your chance for more green, MBTA. Use it wisely.

The budget for the movie is listed on the Internet Movie Database as $750,000. Even if settlement is a drop in the bucket for Turner Broadcasting, that's still a hefty marketing campaign budget. It is still some serious bang for the advertising buck. It reportedly cost $2.4 mil for thirty seconds at the superbowl - this $2 million stunt got them the better part of a week in press mentions making Aqua Teen a household name.

The settlement also came surprisingly fast, which suggests that all parties involved wanted to move on. Boston is embarrassed and Turner is embarrassed. Neither group wants the words "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" and "terror attack" tied together in the press anymore.

The only unresolved issue involves the fates of Sean Stevens and Peter Berdvosky. Bostonist says Coakley should let 'em off the hook. She probably doesn't want those two hanging around the courthouse, anyway.

Image of Mooninite in action from The Trades, which debates the Mooninite fallout.