One Million Moms: FCC’s Acknowledgement That TV Ratings System Is Lacking Is Step in Right Direction
TUPELO, Miss.—The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) finally agrees with One Million Moms (1MM, www.onemillionmoms.com) that the current television rating system is inaccurate and ineffective.
One Million Moms, a division of the American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net), is sharing that the FCC, in its recent report to Congress, acknowledges that the “vast majority” of previously requested public comments about the out-of-date television rating system came from individual consumers such as the concerned parents 1MM reaches. “Nearly all” of the commenters stated their dissatisfaction with the current system.
The FCC report also rightly states that Hollywood should do a better job, said 1MM Director Monica Cole, and that the public concern about the system’s accuracy merits additional action.
“1MM wholeheartedly agrees with the recommendations put forth by the Commission to improve the ratings system and its oversight,” Cole said. “Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel put it best: ‘How can we help parents to be better parents?’ And the report’s last 12 words were perhaps its most important: ‘We note the ratings system has not changed in over 20 years.’
“It is outrageous that a system designed to protect children from toxic entertainment is older than Google, older than the iPhone, and older than Facebook!” Cole added. “The next step in the process for positive change needs to be public hearings, conducted either by Congress or the FCC, that can deliver to parents a reliable and robust content ratings system which reflects the realities of today’s entertainment media landscape. The FCC report must be the beginning for improvement, not an end for this debate.”
Cole noted that 1MM will continue to work to ensure that improvements are made to the ratings system.
“This isn’t the end of the road—not by a long shot,” she said. “But the fact that the FCC report affirms and confirms what we’ve been saying all along is a huge step in the right direction.”
Cole also said that with summer just around the corner and children home from school, parents will need to be extra vigilant on family TV watching.
For example, 1MM has messaged to parents about the recent same-sex wedding featured on the children’s animated television program “Arthur” from PBS Kids. According to the 1MM Action Alert, “On Monday, May 14, 2019, the beloved animated series revealed that one of its longtime main characters and Arthur’s teacher, Mr. Ratburn, was gay and getting married.”
“Discussion of such controversial topics and lifestyle choices should be left up to parents,” Cole said. “PBS Kids should not introduce this to young children. Just because an issue may be legal or because some are choosing a lifestyle doesn’t make it morally correct. PBS Kids should stick to entertaining and providing family-friendly programming, instead of pushing an agenda.”
Learn more about One Million Moms here. View the media page for AFA here. For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or on Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.
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To interview a representative from the American Family Association, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108, or ext. 102.
