TV Watch Statement in Response to Activists' Latest Push for Increased Government Regulation of Television Content

TV Watch Statement in Response to Activists' Latest Push for Increased Government Regulation of Television Content

CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Activists in Washington who continue their push for increased government regulation of television content refuse to accept the advances in technology that allow parents to enforce the decisions they make about what their children should see on television. They don't want Americans to know that parents have the tools to make informed decisions -- and to enforce those decisions -- because it would make their approach obsolete," said Jim Dyke, TV Watch Executive Director.

Technology is changing how Americans watch TV

TV has come a long way from the days of three channels and rabbit ears antennas. Today's TV audiences are putting to use broadband, DVRs, TV video on demand, iPods and cell phones to greatly expand their choices about what, when, where and how to watch TV. New technology means consumers have more selection than ever and more control than ever over what they see on TV. For many TV households, if a program is on it's because someone searched for it, found it and selected it.

Programming the v-chip, cable or satellite blocking technology is similar to changing the settings on a stereo or setting up a new electronic device. Parents who use a DVR or have ever used Video-on-Demand will find blocking technology to be very familiar.

American households are plugged into parental control technologies

There are 30 million television households with children. Since 2000, 180 million television sets have been sold with the V-chip built in.

86 percent of TV households get TV from cable and satellite providers that include parental control options.

Nearly eight percent of US homes use a digital video recorder (DVR), a number expected to grow to 39 percent by 2010.

New TV filtration tools are available for consumers

In addition to existing tools like TV ratings, the v-chip, cable and satellite blocking programs, new tools are available to parents. In March 2006, TiVo announced a new search feature to help parents find kid-friendly programs.

Private companies offer additional tools, like the Weemote, a remote control with channel blocking technology that limits which channels your child can turn to.

Parents use tools to manage what their kids see on TV

Ninety-one percent of parents say they personally take some steps to manage what their children see on TV.

Parents who wish to protect their children from objectionable TV content

have at their disposal a variety of tools:

63 percent watch television with their children
61 percent limit TV watching to certain shows, and 55 percent to certain
times
52 percent use TV ratings
17 percent use cable controls, 12 percent use satellite controls, 5
percent use the v-chip

About TV Watch

TV Watch was launched in May 2005 as a coalition of individuals and organizations to promote the use of parental controls and to support the views of the majority of Americans who prefer individual control of TV content to increased government regulation. TV Watch consists of 27 prominent individuals and organizations representing more than 4 million Americans.

More information is available at http://www.televisionwatch.org/.

Source: TV Watch

CONTACT: Heather Mathias, +1-843-722-9670, for TV Watch

Web site: http://www.televisionwatch.org/

-------
Profile: intent