FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 7, 2004
For more information, contact
Jim Hefner, General Manager at (919) 821-8510

RALEIGH - WRAL-TV inadvertently aired profanity during its noon newscast Friday afternoon. The incident has been reported to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), according to station management.

Instead of putting a station reporter on the air, the station put a viewer on the air who was waiting to play a contest. The viewer used profanity, according to the station.

“We are horrified about what happened,” said Jim Hefner, vice president and general manager of WRAL-TV. “Through a series of unfortunate events, a viewer’s voice and statement went on the air. We apologize to our viewers and the community.”

The television station’s news department was attempting to air a report from WRAL News Reporter Mike Charbonneau. Charbonneau was in Wilson County, following what was believed to be a tornado.

When the station attempted to put Charbonneau on the air, the contest caller was placed on the air instead. The contest caller used profanity. The line was immediately cut, but not before the profanity was broadcast over the air, according to the station. The station broadcast an apology shortly after the incident.

Station management learned that the caller had phoned WRAL-TV to participate in Tarheel Trivia, a contest where viewers answer questions about North Carolina. The caller said he was talking with someone else and was cursing; that he did not know he was on the air. The caller contacted WRAL-TV after the incident to apologize.

The profanity also aired on the WRAL Weather Center Channel and WRAL-HD. Both were carrying WRAL’s noon news and severe weather coverage, live.

“We are responsible,” Hefner said. “The incident was inadvertent, but at the end of the day we are responsible.”