CBS Network works on system to delay repeat of 'bra-ha-ha'

Timberlake is to perform at the Grammys, and Jackson is to present an award.
NEW YORK (AP) -- After Janet Jackson's surprise breast-baring on the Super Bowl halftime show, CBS said this week it would institute a video delay system to avoid any recurrence at Sunday's Grammy Awards.
CBS technicians were scrambling to invent the software -- something more than five-second audio delay the network has used to bleep out swear words, like when Eminem performed on the Grammys two years ago.
Meanwhile, CBS may ask that Jackson and Justin Timberlake be banned from the Grammys if the network concludes the musicians fully intended to give Jackson the extra exposure on Sunday, said a network executive who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Variously referred to as "Nipplegate" and the "bra-ha-ha," the one-second Super Bowl flashing continued to cause reverberations Tuesday.
MTV, FCC
MTV boss Tom Freston, whose network produced the halftime show, bitterly complained about being "punk'd" by Janet Jackson, and Federal Communications Commission chief Michael Powell said the entire show angered him.
Jackson issued another apology for the fiasco in a videotape that was released to media late Tuesday.
"I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention," she said. "MTV, CBS, the NFL had no knowledge of this whatsoever, and unfortunately, the whole thing went wrong in the end."
The pop star had previously apologized in a written statement.
At the end of their duet Sunday, Timberlake snatched off part of Jackson's bustier on stage, revealing a breast clad only in a sun-shaped "nipple shield" to some 89 million viewers.
Jackson's spokeswoman, Jennifer Holiner, said a red lace garment was supposed to remain when Timberlake tore off the outer covering. But widespread questions remained about the intent.
Timberlake, who is nominated for five Grammy Awards, is scheduled to perform on Sunday's telecast. Jackson is supposed to present an award.
New system
Whether they appear or not, CBS censors will have their fingers on a new delay system.
"Unfortunately, we cannot count on those who appear on our air to live up to our standards," said Martin Franks, CBS executive vice president.
Technicians were trying to come up with something more viewer-friendly than just fading to a blank screen if they want something off the air, he said.
Even with Christina Aguilera -- who kissed Madonna onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards last summer -- also scheduled to perform, Grammy producers haven't changed any plans because of the Super flashing, said Ron Roecker, spokesman for the Recording Academy.
"They're musicians," he said. "They're passionate about what they're doing and we can't be 100 percent in control of the action. We don't anticipate there being issues."