TV Ratings for Busy Parents

What are those kids watching, anyway?

Identical Content is Not Always Rated the Same. Because each network rates its own shows, there can be discrepancies about what merits certain ratings classifications. Violence, in particular, has proven to be difficult to rate consistently. For instance, a recent study of 14 series over a four-week period found that TV shows depicting “scenes of stabbings, shootings, rape, decapitation and mutilation” were frequently rated differently on broadcast networks than on cable TV. Cable channels typically applied the more restrictive “adults-only” rating of TV-MA, while broadcast networks applied a softer, “teen-friendly” TV-14 rating.

What are those kids watching, anyway?

“TV-G” and “TV-Y” are for Your Youngest KidS. Shows recommended for children (or all ages) are rated as follows: TV-Y = Programming created specifically for young children, usually ages 2 to 6. A show with this rating won’t include any Content Descriptors; TV-Y7 = Programming typically aimed at children ages 7 or older. May include fantasy violence (FV) or slapstick-style violence that could be scary for younger children; TV-G = Comparable to the “G” rating for movies, this indicates programming with very little, or none, of the five Content Descriptors. Although not specifically for children, most parents would find these shows acceptable viewing for their kids.

What are those kids watching, anyway?

“TV-14” and “TV-MA” Indicate Mature Teens and/or Adults Only. Shows recommended for mature teens and adults only are rated: TV-14 = Depending on your family’s standards, programming rated TV-14 may or may not actually be appropriate for your 14-year-old. These shows contain at least some of the following: “intense violence (V), intense sexual situations (S), strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive dialogue (D).” TV-MA. This is programming designed specifically for people 18 and older, and likely to include any and all of the following: “graphic violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or crude indecent language (L).”

Happy viewing!