Tierney Sneed

The Parents Television Council has become known for blasting individual shows, episodes and live events for airing what the nonprofit advocacy organization deems inappropriate for television’s younger audiences.

Now it is taking on the TV ratings system itself, starting with a letter it sent to Michael Powell, president and CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, who also serves as the chair of the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board.

Among other things, the letter asks the board to be more open about its membership, more communicative as to how it determines the ratings, and to institute policies that will allow for public input to improve the rating systems. According Timothy Winter, president of the PTC, his organization agrees with what most in the entertainment industry say: that parents are ultimately in charge of what their children are exposed to on TV and elsewhere in the media. However, Winter adds, “If a parent is supposed to rely on a ratings system, it has to be accurate, it has to be consistent, it has to be transparent, and there should be some level of accountability.”