May 20, 2013
The controversy over NASCAR driver Dale Earnhart Jr.'s live interview this weekend has NBC taking action. Earnhardt used a profanity in a live interview following Sunday's race and was fined by NASCAR. Thursday NBC announced it will institute a five-second delay in NASCAR coverage, beginning this weekend. Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports and Olympics, called the need for a delay a disappointing development. He said NBC thought previous disciplinary action taken against drivers who swore during interviews would have prevented what happened this weekend. Meanwhile, the Parents Television Council is reportedly planning to lodge a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against NBC over Earnhardt Jr's comment. Just two weeks ago, the commission fined the CBS network a record $550,000 for the Superbowl incident involving Janet Jackson.
