By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Led by the broadcast media, it appears plenty of people were fooled by the alleged "Balloon Boy" hoax.

The Heene family got valuable air time on the major networks and cable ones as well last Thursday and Friday.

That's exactly what dad Richard Heene wanted, based on the charges that appear likely against the family.

The Heenes already had appeared on ABC's "Wife Swap," and may have been looking for other reality shows to be involved in.

The sweet taste of publicity led to the incident, according to officials on Sunday.

"It has been determined that this is a hoax, that it was a publicity stunt and we believe we have evidence at this point to indicate that this was a publicity stunt in hopes to better market themselves for a reality show," said Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden.

Fortunately, the media also may have helped break the case.

That's because 6-year-old Falcon Heene -- the boy who was initially thought to be in the balloon that floated away on Thursday -- remarked on live TV that "we did this for a show."

Falcon was found hiding in his home.

CNN reported that the parents -- Richard and Mayumi -- "could face charges of conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, filing a false report with authorities and with attempting to influence a public servant."