The TV Rating System
- TV-Y" All children. The Themes and elements in this program are specifically designed for a very young audience, including children from ages 2-6 (preschool and small children)
- TV-Y7 "Directed to older children. Theme and elements in this program may include mild physical or comedic physical or comedic violence, or may frighten children under the age of seven. Most of these shows come on Saturday mornings or on weekday afternoons on most television networks and local affiliates.
- TV-G" General audience. It contains little or no violence, no strong language and litter or no sexual dialogue or situations. For everyone to watch, if you trust the broadcasters in their judgments.
- TV-PG" Parental Guidance Suggested. The program may contain infregquent coarse language, limited violence, some suggestive sexual dialogue and situations. This is the most confusing rating of all. This is the reason why the new "ratings letters have been added." Some parents may think one show is okay, whilst others think it should be rated "TV-14" or "TV-M." The most important thing about this rating is that the producers meant for the parents should choose what their children should watch, and they're the true judges, because everyone's standards are different. These shows were not meant for a kid to watch by him/herself.
- TV-14" Parent strongly cautioned. This program may contain sophisticated themes, sexual content strong language and more intense violence. This rating could be compared with "PG-13." This is a level below TV-M or rated R, in which it is not advised that a person under 17 watch the program or movie. However, as with "TV-PG," standards are different amongst different people. As for letting a 13 or 14-year-old watch the show, it depends on the maturity level of the person. Children under seven should not watch these programs of this nature. Children 8-14 year-olds should watch these shows with their parents.
- TV-M " Mature audiences only, This program may contain mature themes, profane language, graphic violence, and explicit sexual content." This is considered “The "R" of television. This rating is generally rarer on broadcast television, because advertisers have a fear that a program with an M rating would either not be watched or family groups would boycott their related companies. Any rate, this show is not for kids under 17 (Craig,1-2.)
For years there has been a debate whether television censorship is good or bad. Censorship for television especially was made to protect people, namely children. One thing that the government had to be careful about was not to violate the first amendment. The first amendment states that that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. In no way does censorship violate this. In 1990 the Children’s Act was enacted by congress. The act was made to increase the quantity of educational programs for children. More than two thirds of children are said to be influenced by what they watch on television between the ages seven and seventeen (Office of Public Affairs.) Censorship is both good and bad, depending on how an individual weighs the issue. However the cons outweigh the positives.
Cons of Censorship in television:
- The governments should not control people.
- Individuals have different tastes
- It is used to control people.
- Freedom of speech is compromised.
- It works against creativity
· Censorship is subject to just television, although there are ratings for movies as well, when aired on television words and gestures are censored out. (Pillai, 1.)
No comments:
Post a Comment