ESPN Must Conduct Full Policy Review Given Nude Content Was Broadcast During College Football Game

LOS ANGELES (January 2, 2024) – The Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) said that ESPN must make changes to ensure that nudity will not be shown during future broadcasts.

During the Sugar Bowl broadcast on ESPN, a woman’s breast was shown in footage from Bourbon Street in New Orleans. ESPN has apologized for the incident.

“Nudity on ESPN was no accident. The on-location footage of the woman flashing her breast was likely pre-recorded, not a live shot, so ESPN would have had opportunity to review. But even if it was a live shot, ESPN showed a complete lack of judgement by capturing footage of people on Bourbon Street during the college football broadcast,” said Melissa Henson, vice president, Parents Television and Media Council.

“ESPN has the capability to ensure that nudity is not shown during its broadcasts, but clearly ESPN failed to take the necessary steps to prevent this from happening during its Sugar Bowl coverage. At the very least, ESPN should use a few seconds delay on a live broadcast, but what this incident should trigger is a full review of ESPN’s own internal policies to prevent this from happening in the future.”