32 Chapter 4
USA V-Chip Rating System
TV-MA (Mature Audience Only)Specicallydesignedtobeviewedbyadultsandmay
beunsuitableforchildrenunder17.Itcontainsoneormoreofthefollowing
contentthemes:crudeindecentlanguage(L),explicitsexualactivity(S),or
graphicviolence(V).
TV-14 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)Containssomematerialthatmanyparentswould
ndunsuitableforchildrenunder14.Parentsarestronglyurgedtoexercise
greatercareinmonitoringthisprogramandarecautionedagainstlettingchildren
undertheageof14watchunattended.Thisprogramcontainsoneormoreof
thefollowingcontentthemes:intenselysuggestivedialogue(D),strongcoarse
language(L),intensesexualsituations(S),orintenseviolence(V).
TV-PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)Containsmaterialthatparentsmaynd
unsuitableforyoungerchildren.Manyparentsmaywanttowatchitwiththeir
youngerchildren.Theprogramcontainsoneormoreofthefollowingcontent
themes:somesuggestivedialogue(D),infrequentcoarselanguage(L),some
sexualsituations(S),ormoderateviolence(V).
TV-G (General Audience)Mostparentswouldndthisprogramsuitableforallages.It
containslittleornosexualdialogue(D)orsituations(S),nostronglanguage(L),
andlittleornoviolence(V).
TV-Y7 (Directed to Children 7 years and older)Designedforchildrenages7
andabove.Itmaybemoreappropriateforchildrenwhohaveacquiredthe
developmentalskillsneededtodistinguishbetweenmake-believeandreality.
Themesandelementsinthisprogrammayincludemildfantasyviolence(FV)or
comedicviolence,ormayfrightenchildrenundertheageof7.
TV-Y (All Children)Themesandelementsinthisprogramaredesignedforayoung
audience,includingchildrenfromages2-6.Itisnotexpectedtofrightenyounger
children.
18+ (Adults)Programmingintendedforadults18andolder.Itmaycontainelements
ofviolence,language,andsexualcontentwhichcouldmakeitunsuitablefor
viewersunder18.ViolenceGuidelines:Maycontainviolenceintegraltothe
developmentoftheplot,characterortheme,intendedforadultaudiences.Other
ContentGuidelines:Maycontaingraphiclanguageandexplicitportrayalsof
nudityand/orsex.
14+ (Viewers 14 and over)Programmingcontainsthemesorcontentwhichmay
notbesuitableforviewersundertheageof14.Parentsarestronglycautionedto
exercisediscretioninpermittingviewingbypre-teensandearlyteens.Violence
Guidelines:Maycontainintensescenesofviolence.Coulddealwithmature
themesandsocietalissuesinarealisticfashion.OtherContentGuidelines:May
containscenesofnudityand/orsexualactivity.Therecouldbefrequentuseof
profanity.
PG (Parental Guidance)Programmingintendedforageneralaudiencebutwhich
maynotbesuitableforyoungerchildren(undertheageof8).Parentsmay
considersomecontentinappropriateforunsupervisedviewingbychildrenaged
8-13.ViolenceGuidelines:Depictionsofconictand/oraggressionwillbelimited
andmoderate;mayincludephysical,fantasy,orsupernaturalviolence.Other
ContentGuidelines:Maycontaininfrequentmildprofanity,ormildlysuggestive
language.Couldalsocontainbriefscenesofnudity.
Canadian English V-Chip Rating System
Other Information