By TIMOTHY KENNEDY
A new voluntary rating system that will better describe the contents of television programs was put into effect Wednesday by all of the major networks but NBC.
The new rating system will give more details for parents who are concerned with the content of the current television programs. The new rating system will include the letter “S” for sexual content, “L” for coarse and offensive language, “V” for violence and “D” for suggestive dialogue.
Vice President Al Gore hailed the new system in a recent news release. He commended the new rating system as a “responsible approach” to television viewing and said, “It is a legitimate demand by parents in this country to be able to have this information.”
The rating system that was initiated earlier this year has been under fire since its inception because it makes judgements concerning the content of television programs by labeling them with such ratings as TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14 and TV-M, while neglecting the descriptions of the programs, a critical aspect for parental groups.
Professor Joseph Straubhaar of the Communications Department agreed.
“The age-based system hasn’t really worked very well. It’s a pretty worthless system to the parents trying to make a real decision.”
Joel Federman, the Director of Research for Mediascope agrees that there are definite disadvantages to a judgmental rating system.
He says, “A typical conservative will tend to have different viewing preferences concerning violence, language and sex than an average liberal consumer. Descriptive ratings allow these very different consumers to make choices appropriate to their own values and tastes.”
Federman continued, “On a television program descriptive ratings would list such things as ‘moderate violence’ or ‘partial nudity,’ for example, without making judgements as to its suitability for particular audiences.”
NBC has decided not to participate in the new rating system.
NBC spokesperson Kassie Canter said in a news release, “We are not changing our position. The fact is we’re doing a lot.”
Some of the actions taken by NBC include public service announcements and an increase in the use of on-screen advisories to parents.
