The number one television network in the country, NBC, is the lone wolf holding ground against a potential "tidal wave" of censorship by refusing to be bullied by pressure groups and shakey-handed Congressmen to amend the "voluntary" TV Ratings system.
By October 1st, the television ratings icons, appearing in the corner of your tv screen for 15 seconds before each show, will be amended to include the letters "V", "S", "L", and "D"; namely "violence", "sex", "language" and "dialog" (sexual dialog that is).
"My message is: Be afraid, be very afraid," Warren Littlefield, NBC Programming Chief said. "As broadcasters, I feel we're looking at a potential avalanche now. It's no longer about should parents be informed. It's about controlling content." He adds, "In my 20 years as a broadcaster, I have never been more afraid than I am of the content rating issue. They're being very clear: `We don't want to label your garbage, we want to
remove your garbage.'"
Isn't it about time that we realize that placing a label on something, makes it all the more attractive? What's the first thing a child is going to think when those expanded letters appear on the screen? "Oh boy! This program's got sex and violence in it! This is where the action is, man! I'm gonna watch this!" It's the same for movies and music: forbidden=fun! These new candy-like ratings will not only beckon the oncoming "tidal wave" of censorship, but (like the "parental advisory" stickers on records have already done) will encourage parents to become more lazy and let the government do the parenting for them.
It's not often we can say this about a major television network, but Rock Out Censorship would like to praise Warren Littlefield from NBC for refusing to cooperate with the likes of Sen. Paul Simon who started all the talk on Capitol Hill of TV content
regulations. These new ratings are not the last to be reckoned with. Congress already has plans to discuss MANDATORY ratings, as well as a legislated TV "family hour", in its coming agenda (Source: Houston Chronicle).
What can the average Joe TV-watcher do? Not just sit back on the couch and watch TV, that's for sure. Let the networks and the government know how you feel! Use the following links to contact the major networks and the cable networks as well (they've become sheep just like the big-wigs). And be sure to check out our Activism Central section to contact lawmakers to tell them to let US decide what's good for our kids.
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