When it comes to television content, it's important for viewers, especially parents and guardians, to understand the type of programming their children or themselves are watching. This is where TV age ratings come into play. But what exactly are they, and how do they differ across various regions? Let's dive into this topic.
TV age ratings, or TV ratings, are classification systems used to determine the appropriateness of television shows and movies for different age groups. These systems help viewers make informed decisions about the content they consume. They provide guidelines about language, violence, sex, and nudity, among other factors.
Understanding TV Age Ratings in the United States
The United States uses a system developed by the Television Parental Guidelines that categorizes programming into five main rating levels.
The age rating system in the US includes:
- TV-Y - This program is designed to be appropriate for all children.
- TV-Y7 - This program is designed for children aged 7 and above.
- TV-G - This program is designed for all audiences.
- TV-PG (May Contain THIS) - This program may contain material that many parents would find unsuitable for young children.
- TV-14 (This Program Is Designed to be Appropriate for all most older children and adults) and TV-MA (This program is specifically designed for adults) - Programs with these ratings may contain material that is only appropriate for older children and adults.
SVOD Platforms' Ratings
Streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime also use their own ratings systems alongside the TV Parental Guidelines. They provide additional details about the type of content a show contains, such as violence, intense scenes, or suggestive dialogue. For instance, Netflix's ratings include 'mature' alongside the TV-MA rating to indicate that the program contains mature content appropriate for ages 17 and above.
They also provide content warnings for specific episodes, ensuring viewers are aware of potentially disturbing content.
MTVN's Ratings
MTV Networks (MTVN) uses a supplementary symbol to the TV Parental Guidelines' ratings. It adds 'FV' (Strong Fantasy Violence) or 'D' (Depiction of Drug Use) to notify parents that a program contains intense fantasy violence or depictions of drug use, respectively.
These supplementary symbols help parents make more informed decisions about the content their children are consuming.
TV Age Ratings Around the World
While the US system is widely used, other countries have their own TV age rating systems.
For example, Britain's Ofcom uses a combined age and content-specific classification system. Ratings range from U (Universal - suitable for all) to 18 (adults). Content-specific warnings are also provided, such as ' Harm or offense' or 'Sexual violence'.
Ofcom's Ratings
Section 1 of Ofcom's code provides guidance on age appropriateness. Age ratings are as follows:
- U - Suitable for all.
- PG (Parental Guidance) - Depictions of violence, sex or language are mild or moderate.
- 12 - Contains material that might be considered unsuitable for children aged under 12.
- 15 - Contains strong violence, sexual activity, or language.
- 18 - Similar to the US's TV-MA, this program is unsuitable for anybody under the age of 18.
Section 2 of the code details content-specific guidelines, which include warnings about sex, violence, disturbing material, and offensive language.
European Commission's Rating
The European Commission has recommended implementing a common labeling system for on-demand audiovisual media services. Their system also includes content descriptors, focusing on themes and factors that could irritate or upset viewers.
As viewers, understanding these ratings, and the specific content they denote, is crucial in ensuring we're consuming entertainment that aligns with our values and appropriateness for our age or our children's age. Therefore, it's paramount to stay informed about these classifications.