Recognizing the strong media influence on children through the television industry and due to pressure from parents and pro family groups, congress and the FCC proposed a television program rating system in 1997. The purpose of the television rating system was to protect children from inappropriate material they may be exposed to while viewing television programming. The rating system is voluntary but most major networks and cable networks have complied with the system.
The television rating system is based on age, much like the motion picture industry rating system. The ratings are determined by the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring board and the network which airs the program. The board is compromised of people who work in the television industry and are considered experts.
The television rating system is as follows: TV-Y (all children), TV-7 (older children), TV-G (general audience), TV-PG (parental guidance), TV-14 (parents strongly cautioned) and TV-MA (mature audiences).
The rating is displayed in the upper left corner of the television screen in a small box during the first 15 seconds of the program. The rating is displayed every half hour for any program that extends past a half hour.
Along with the rating system, content rating sometimes accompanies the rating which will explain what type of material is present that that may be questionable for children. D means suggestive dialogue, V represents violence, L means crude language, and S represents sexual situations.
Media influence is heavy through television viewing. The television rating system was created to help parents make informed decisions as to what their children view.