TV Parental Guidelines
The guidelines went into effect by January 1, 1997, on most major broadcast and cable networks in response to public concerns[1] about increasing amounts of mature content in television programs.
The ratings were designed to be used with the V-chip, which was mandated to be built into all television sets manufactured since 2000 (and the vast majority of cable/satellite set-top boxes).
This rating system would work in conjunction with the V-chip, a device embedded in television sets that enables parents to block programming they determine to be inappropriate.
They agreed that the guidelines would be applied by broadcast and cable networks in order to handle the large amount of programming that must be reviewed – some 2,000 hours a day.
Finally, the revised proposal called for five representatives of the advocacy community to be added to the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board.
On March 12, 1998, the Federal Communications Commission found that the Industry Video Programming Rating System was acceptable,[8] and adopted technical requirements for the V-chip.
One of the criticisms was that the rarely updated guidelines offer no guidance on LGBTQ+ representation and the ratings are only changed "in the face of complaints".
The thematic elements portrayed in programs with this rating are specifically designed for a very young audience, including children from ages 2 to 6.
[12] The thematic elements portrayed in programs with this rating contain little or no violence, mild language, and little or no sexual dialogue or situations.
Programs assigned a TV-PG rating may include infrequent coarse language, some sexual content, some suggestive dialogue, or moderate violence.
Programs with this rating may include crude indecent language, explicit sexual activity and graphic violence.
While the descriptors were specifically developed for the Parental Guidelines system, Apple TV (except for some subscription add-ons sold through its Apple TV Channels marketplace) applies the system's descriptors to theatrically released films rated under the Motion Picture Association's proprietary ratings system, in lieu of other content advisory descriptions (such as the more specific advisory system used by premium cable services, including those sold through the Apple TV platform); Hulu typically restricts on-screen ratings and content descriptors to its original programming and licensed films.
Rather than use the default content descriptors, other streaming services like Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix (the latter basing ratings and content information for original and some licensed series on the program's overall maturity level, rather than on an episode-to-episode basis[16]) may provide more concise detail of the thematic material in a particular title alongside the title’s rating.
Several channels (including USA Network and AMC) insert special caution boards for horror programs at the end of commercial breaks, almost always occurring before a series uses the word "fuck" in uncensored dialogue.
