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CBS to use 'enhanced' tape-delay for Grammys

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CBS will use an "enhanced" tape-delay system during its Grammy Awards broadcast.

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Singer Janet Jackson took all responsibility for the breast-baring incident that occurred during the Super Bowl halftime show (February 4)
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- CBS announced Tuesday it will broadcast Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremony with an "enhanced" tape-delay system, an apparent effort to avoid a repeat of the Super Bowl halftime show in which Janet Jackson's right breast was displayed live to a national television audience.

For the first time in the 46-year history of the Grammys, the network will be able to delete inappropriate video as well as audio, CBS said in a written statement.

Celebrities have been known to behave badly on awards shows, including U2's Bono using the F-word during NBC's live broadcast of the 2003 Golden Globes. In 1998, a non-celebrity caused problems at the Grammys when he rushed the stage during Bob Dylan's performance.

In prior years, the show aired with a five-second tape delay, enabling network censors to delete offensive language but leaving them helpless against surprise images such as nudity or hand gestures.

"The precise length of the new delay has yet to be determined," said the statement, which makes no mention of Jackson or the Super Bowl.

At the end of the Super Bowl halftime show, Jackson's right breast was exposed when Justin Timberlake ripped off a portion of her outfit, as they finished singing "Rock Your Body."

Politicians and throngs of CBS viewers voiced their outrage.

Timberlake called it a "wardrobe malfunction."

Jackson spokesman Stephen Huvane said Timberlake was supposed to pull away Jackson's bustier while leaving intact her red lace bra.

Jackson herself said neither CBS nor MTV, which produced the halftime show, were aware of the stunt beforehand.

"The decision to have a costume reveal at the end of my halftime show performance was made after final rehearsals. MTV was completely unaware of it," Jackson said in a written statement. "It was not my intention that it go as far as it did. I apologize to anyone offended -- including the audience, MTV, CBS and the NFL."

Despite those apologies, and apologies from CBS and MTV, the Federal Communications Commission launched an investigation Monday and FCC Chairman Michael Powell said he did not believe the breast exposure was an accident.

Powell said that MTV, the CBS network's 16 owned-and-operated stations and more than 200 affiliated stations could "conceivably" be fined $27,000 apiece.

This year's Grammy Awards ceremony will be broadcast at 8 p.m. ET Sunday.

Timberlake, 50 Cent, Christina Aguilera, Outkast and Celine Dion are among those set to perform.

Timberlake is nominated in five Grammy categories, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.


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