TV Ratings Information

T V Guide

Television Guide
Monday, January 5, 2009 @3:52pm CST

Since 1997, all television programming is labeled with a content rating. NBC uses the original ratings system voluntarily proposed by the industry. Currently, only news and sports programming are exempt from these guidelines. Although every individual episode of a series must be based on the content of that individual episode, the networks have provided an average rating for each program. Movie ratings will vary with individual titles. Below is a description of each of the ratings categories. The first two categories pertain to kids programming only.

All Children	This program is appropriate for all children. Whether animated or live-action, the themes and elements in this program were specifically designed for a very young audience, including kids 2-6 years old. This program is not expected to frighten younger kids.
Directed to Older Children	This program is designed for children age 7 and older. It may be more appropriate for children who have acquired the developmental skills to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Themes and elements in this program may include mild physical or comedic violence or may frighten kids under age 7. Therefore, parents may wish to consider the suitability of this program for their very young children.
General Audience	Most parents would find this suitable viewing for all ages. Although this rating does not signify a program designed specifically for children, parents may let young children watch this program unattended. It contains little or no violence, no strong language and little or no sexual content.
Parental Guidance Suggested	This program may contain some material unsuitable for younger children. Parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may call for parental guidance. The program may contain infrequent coarse language, limited violence and some suggestive sexual dialogue and situations.
Parents Strongly Cautioned	This program may contain some material unsuitable for children under 14 years of age. Parents are urged to exercise greater care in monitoring this program and are strongly cautioned against letting children under 14 watch unattended. This program may contain sophisticated themes, sexual content, strong language, and more intense violence.
Mature Audiences Only	This program is designed to be viewed by adults specifically and is therefore unsuitable for children. Parents are likely to find this program too explicit for children 17 years and younger. This program may contain mature themes, profane language, graphic violence, and explicit sexual content.

These ratings are superimposed, usually at the top left of your television screen, over the very beginning of a program for approximately 20 seconds. This is designed to give you the ability to immediately decide if the program you are viewing is appropriate for the audience present.

In cases where a program runs longer than one hour, the rating is superimposed again at the top of the second hour.

The colors used here, if your browser is new enough to allow it, are for artistic purposes only and will not be present with the rating on your TV screen.