Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Urges NBC Not to Air Fear Factor Episode

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Urges NBC Not to Air Fear Factor Episode

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), the not-for-profit product safety testing organization, today sent the following letter to Mr. Jeff Zucker, President, Universal Television/NBC Entertainment urging Mr. Zucker not to air the Fear Factor episode, which features a stunt involving contestants receiving electric shocks against the backdrop of a utility substation, scheduled to run the evening of Jan. 31, 2005.

January 31, 2005

Mr. Jeff Zucker, President
Universal Television
NBC Entertainment
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

Dear Mr. Zucker,



Each year there are 2000 emergency room admissions and over 1000 deaths due to electrical injuries to adults and children. Most electrical injuries to children are due to faulty electrical equipment or children "playing" with electricity. Pediatric emergency physicians point out that youths are bent on exploration, sometimes in proximity to dangerous places such as high-voltage transformer enclosures or near high-tension lines, while teens are cited for their well-known, risk-taking behavior, often not aware of the consequences and complications of their actions.

For over a century, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) has been working for a safer world serving as the leading safety certifier with over 19 billion UL Marks of Safety appearing on products annually and an impressive 200 million consumers reached through UL issued safety messages.

When UL learned of tonight's stunt on NBC's Fear Factor -- "Couples get the shock of a lifetime!" -- we were appalled. Electricity, when used improperly, is deadly. Obviously, NBC is well aware of the sense of risk associated with electricity, hence creation of such a stunt. However, NBC has a corporate social responsibility to do the right thing -- to not encourage or advocate actions that can lead to severe injury or death by portraying stunts or pranks involving electricity as entertainment, irrespective of any safety measures that may be in place or associated viewer warnings.

Injury and death prevention begins with education; education on the dangers and hazards associated with electricity. Sensationalizing the dangers, dramatizing the effects, creating a "contest" where fearlessness or ignorance wins, does not serve to educate the public on the very serious, deadly effects of electricity.

As the organization entrusted with public safety, UL would be remiss in not citing our deep concerns about the airing of this stunt. We trust NBC will do the right thing and not air this segment.

Sincerely,

Barbara R. Guthrie
Director Consumer Affairs

Cc: Mr. Bob Wright - NBC Universal



Source: Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

CONTACT: Paul M. Baker, Manager, Media Relations, of Underwriters
Laboratories, Inc. +1-847-272-8800, ext. 41001, cell, +1-847-602-2828,
Paul.M.Baker@us.ul.com


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