NBC Fumbled and the NFL Lied

NBC Fumbled and the NFL Lied

Take Action To Demand Tape Delays for All Live Broadcasts

Last week we shared with you a statement from the NFL, promising that this year’s Super Bowl halftime show would be an “exciting and entertaining show that will be appropriate for our audience.”

The NFL broke their word, and let families down… again.

In case you missed it, during Sunday night’s game, performer M.I.A. directed an obscene gesture at the camera while singing, “I don’t give a sh**.”

It is unfortunate that a spectacular sporting event was overshadowed once again by broadcasting the selfish acts of a desperate performer. For the second time in recent memory, the most-watched television event of the year (this year, in fact, the most-watched television event in US history, with over 111 million viewers) left parents across the country lunging for their remote controls.

The NFL has betrayed the trust and goodwill of families across America by inviting artists known for courting controversy to perform during the half-time show.  The NFL offered an apology, of sorts: "There was a failure in NBC's delay system.  The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans."

Though the NFL clearly exhibited poor judgment and a certain naivety in assuming this group of performers would deliver an “appropriate” halftime show, NBC is ultimately responsible for anything that goes out over the broadcast airwaves they license. 

Whatever mechanisms NBC had in place to catch this type of material completely failed when it mattered most – during the most-watched television event in history. It is time for NBC to put a new system in place to prevent future such occurrences; and if there was a provision in the performers’ contracts to hold them responsible for any indecent behavior, it should be enforced. 

NBC cannot plausibly claim they were caught off guard.  It has been eight years since the Janet Jackson striptease, and both NBC and the NFL knew full well what might happen. They chose a lineup full of performers who have based their careers on shock, profanity and titillation. Instead of preventing indecent material, they enabled it. M.I.A. used a middle finger shamelessly to bring controversial attention to herself, while effectively telling an audience filled with children, ‘F– you.’

The networks have demonstrated zero interest in safeguarding the broadcast airwaves, and last night’s Super Bowl debacle is just the latest proof.  If NBC had procedures in place, adequately trained staff, a reasonable time delay, and a commitment to preventing inappropriate content from airing during live broadcasts, the entire incident could have been avoided. Instead, NBC prefers to pretend that they can’t control what happens during a live show, and argue to the U.S. Supreme Court for freedom from responsibility for anything that happens during their watch. 

This can not stand, and should not be tolerated any longer. If this were the first time NBC erred during a live broadcast, it might be understandable, but NBC has allowed these "accidents" to happen time and time again. Enough already.

Please take action today by signing our petition to demand NBC put all future live broadcasts on an adequate tape delay and to hold on-air talent accountable for their actions during live broadcasts.  And please, share this e-mail with friends who share your values and concerns.

We will deliver the petition to NBC and all of its affiliates to let them know we are fed-up with their careless disregard for America's families.  the obligations and responsibility that come with the licensed use of the broadcast airwaves.

The NFL and NBC must take responsibility for allowing this offensive material to air in front of one hundred million Americans; and they must take immediate steps to ensure this never happens again.