Parents Television Council Blasts TV, Movie Industries Over Ratings Systems

The Parents Television Council took aim at the television and movie industries, calling for a complete overhaul of the industries’ ratings systems and blasting the industries’ lack of progress in reducing media violence.

The media watchdog organization claimed that the industries’ ratings systems are tainted by “inaccuracies and inconsistencies,” with PTC president Tim Winter adding that the industries have “done nothing” to reduce media violence since media executives met with Vice President Joe Biden a year ago. “In one year, the industry has done nothing to reduce media violence, and new research shows the networks routinely assign age ratings for horrifically violent content on broadcast TV deeming it appropriate for children. Movies are no better, as new research found that PG-13 rated films contain as much violence as R-rated films,” Winter said. Citing its own research, the PTC claimed that television shows rated TV-14 on broadcast television have “similar levels and types of violence” as cable shows rated TV-MA.