Should sports programs be given a delay?

[tomster2300]

I watched the last quarter of the Rice / Troy Bowl game, and what I saw made me wonder whether sports broadcasts should have a delay or not. The camera caught one person giving the finger in the stands, and an up close shot of a player screaming the F word (you could hear it too). I've seen both of these occur at other times as well.

While I'm not personally offended, I know some people might be (parents with children, esp. at family get-togethers at this time of year). Plus the media still have some standards to uphold.

Also, are companies fined for stuff like this being slipped over the air?

[newbuilder14]

You are bringing up a legal issue here, but it is a great topic where we can give our opinions as well.

I always thought there was a delay - how do they add all of those graphics and whatnot?

Anyhow, I do agree that the inappropriate content should be left out - most especially on national television.

[telegramsam]

I know there was a LONG delay on the last superbowl, following the JJ boobie incident. Maybe just huge games like that get delays?

[EzyStvy]

While the delay sounds like a good idea, it still probably better to get the players to play nice with each other...

[Kareeser]

As far as I remember (visited a TV studio in grade 8) ALL programming is delayed.

Live shows typically have a delay of 7 seconds. Enough to edit out swears or inappropriate gestures.

The only exception would have been Saturday Night Live, which was broadcast truly live. However, they have been forced behind a 7 second delay as well after Sinead O'Connor ripped a picture of the pope in half.

What you saw was most likely the rare bits that got through the censors.

[fleeingpepper]

My family wouldn't be offended by any of that. I could see them laughing out loud. Actually just my dad's side of the family. My mom's side the family....gah, my freaking grandpa would call the station and threaten to sue. Gosh, so embarrassing.

But yea, it it delayed, because they have to put all of the graphics in and everything, computers are fast, but people aren't as fast.

[clroberts]

In order to prove if it is delayed or not, I would say someone should attend a local sporting event that is being televised and bring a portable TV with them to the game and see how long of a delay there is between the live play and the TV.

[telegramsam]

I'll attend an event and get naked. If you see me, you'll know!!

(Don't look for very long--it could permanently damage your eyesight--nobody wants to see this)

[mbossman2]

live unscripted broadcasts are not held to the same standard as a scripted performance.


Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, things are said and gestures made that shouldn't be aired...but that is normally outside the reasonable control of the broadcaster.

SOmething like the notorious Janet jackson boob-gate is different as that appeared to be (and IIRC was admitted to be) scripted and intentional and it was ruled that the broadcaster should have known that was going to happen


as to delay? it maybe a couple of seconds (processing and transmission time delays) at most but that is different than inserting an intentional delay and having someone monitor the broadcast with their finger on the "beeeep".

[Kareeser]

Kinda makes you wonder how many times they had to go over every Jerry Springer episode to get all the swears :)

[Force Flow]

I always thought there was a delay - how do they add all of those graphics and whatnot?

That can either be done on the fly or prepaired beforehand. The flashing logos during transitions are prepared beforehand, then stuck in and used on the fly...the scores and the names the appear are mixed between being done on the fly and prepaired a little beforehand.

I used to do live basketball game broadcasts, and while we weren't that high tech as it usually is in NBA broadcasts, we still did some interesting things on the fly.

[David M]

As far as I remember (visited a TV studio in grade 8) ALL programming is delayed.

Live shows typically have a delay of 7 seconds. Enough to edit out swears or inappropriate gestures.

The only exception would have been Saturday Night Live, which was broadcast truly live. However, they have been forced behind a 7 second delay as well after Sinead O'Connor ripped a picture of the pope in half.

What you saw was most likely the rare bits that got through the censors.

Saturday Night Live is delayed on the West Coast and probably everywhere but the East Coast. Anyways, all live events should be delayed long enough to bleep out or hide anything obscene. It just makes sense if you want to keep events family friendly.