Tape delay (broadcasting)

:There is also a WFMU radio program called Seven Second Delay.

Related Topics:
WFMU - Seven Second Delay

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In radio and television, tape delay refers to the practice of intentionally delaying broadcast of live material. A short delay is often used to prevent profanity or other undesirable material from making it to air, including more mundane problems such as technical malfunctions or coughing. In this instance, it is often referred to as a seven-second delay or profanity delay. Longer delays can also be introduced, as is sometimes done with nationally-broadcast programs in countries with multiple time zones. That can sometimes be simply achieved with a video tape recorder or similar technology. In the context of modern digital video recorders, this can now be considered a class of time shifting.

Related Topics:
Radio - Television - Broadcast - Live - Profanity - Malfunction - Cough - Time zone - Video tape recorder - Digital video recorder - Time shifting

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In modern systems, a profanity delay is often just a software module manually operated by a broadcast technician that puts a short delay (usually between five and ten seconds) into the broadcast of live content. This gives the broadcaster time to censor the audio (and video) feed. This can be accomplished by cutting directly to a non-delayed feed, essentially jumping past the undesired moment (something which can be quite jarring to a viewer or listener). Alternately, silence or a "bleep" can be inserted to "cover up" the audio. This is more difficult to do with live content, however, and more often appears on recorded material (recorded programs may also have this accompanied by digital blurring of the speaker's mouth, in case it is obvious what he or she is saying even if it isn't audible).

Related Topics:
Censor - Bleep

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the United States the Federal Communications Commission has the constitutional right to regulate indecent broadcasts on public airwaves. However, the FCC does not actively monitor television broadcasts for indecency violations, nor does it keep a record of television broadcasts. It relies exclusively on documented indecency complaints from television viewers. The FCC is allowed to enforce indecency laws between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Related Topics:
United States - Federal Communications Commission

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While audio censoring has received increased attention in recent years, such as in the second half of an episode of Arthur, video censoring became an issue following an incident involving Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake during the live broadcast of the Super Bowl XXXVIII, in which Jackson's bare breast was revealed. In an effort to avoid a repeat, CBS decided to use tape-delay for the 2004 Grammy Awards. In February 2004, ABC announced it would impose a video and audio delay on the annual Academy Awards (Oscars) to safeguard viewers from any obscenities. At the same time, CBC imposed a 7-second broadcast delay on commentator Don Cherry's Coach's Corner program. This delay was lifted after the regular season during which it was imposed.

Related Topics:
Arthur - Incident - Janet Jackson - Justin Timberlake - Super Bowl XXXVIII - Breast - CBS - 2004 - Grammy Award - February 2004 - ABC - Academy Award - CBC - Don Cherry - Regular season

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~