Parents' council sends out petition against NBC for Super Bowl 'obscenity'

Washington, Feb 8 (ANI): An advocacy group, which is concerned about what kids see on TV, has launched an on-line petition against NBC for showing M.I.A.'s apparent curse word and middle finger flipping vulgar gesture during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show.

About eight minutes into Madonna's half-time act at Sunday's Super Bowl act, British sensation M.I.A. appeared to curse, saying, "I don't give a ..." and flipped her middle finger to the more than 110 million American viewers.

The Parents Television Council's petition demands, among other things, "NBC put all future live broadcasts on an adequate tape delay and to hold on-air talent accountable for their actions during live broadcasts."

Melissa Henson, the council's spokeswoman, said that she wants other broadcasters to abide by the rules too, but noted that both ABC and CBS have gone to great lengths to create safeguards -- such as a time delay-to help prevent such vulgarities from reaching home audiences, especially young viewers.

The L.A. based council said that sports leagues and networks can no longer pretend they've been caught off guard by vulgarities or that they're ill-prepared for misbehaving celebrities. That grace period expired long ago with Nipplegate-the now-infamous 2004 halftime show featuring Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson and Janet Jackson's nipple.

Given that history, the group says, NBC should have been ready.

"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," LA Times quoted the group as writing in an e-mail blast via its newsletter.

Henson said that the Parents Television Council is particularly irritated with NBC given that the network has found itself in this situation before.

In the years since Nipplegate, the Super Bowl has tried to play it safe with artists unlikely to run afoul of good taste.

But Henson said "it was a bit naive on the part of the NFL to believe that this particular slate of artists would deliver a squeaky clean halftime show. But ultimately NBC is the one that licenses the airways."

Henson said the blast went to subscribers, which number between 80,000-100,000.

She said that the missive has been sent, and it isn't yet known how many on-line signatures have been collected.

The petition, and signatures, will be presented to NBC. (ANI)