Opinions | Deciphering The TV Ratings System

Originally Posted by Jeff Harris

TV-MA. C8. TV-Y7 FV. 14+.

In foreign visitors, these symbols in the corners of the screen may seem alien and weird. In the United States and Canada, they seem alien and weird. These symbols are part of the US and Canadian Television Ratings Guidelines. These content-based ratings are used to determine whether or not a particular program is "safe" for children to watch. Of course different networks have different guidelines to determine these ratings, further weakening their effectiveness. What may be TV-MA on Comedy Central could be TV-14 on HBO. A show that's TV-14 on Cartoon Network could be TV-PG on MTV, and what may be TV-Y on Kids' WB may be C8 on YTV. I personally believe that parents, not government officials, should make the right choices in determining what shows their children should watch, but to be fair, I'm going to break down the ratings system in both the US and Canada (why Canada? It's a great country, plus a lot of folks north of the border tend to check out the site now and then). The ratings are very similar (Canada's system came just a year after the US unleashed their ratings), so I'll pair the ratings together.

TV-Y/C

TV-Y and C represents the "mildest" rating for television. This rating is designated for shows deemed "safe" for children and produced for children. Most of these shows tend to be either educational (often carrying the additional E/I [Educational and Informational] rating in the US) or just non-violent. All Nick Jr./Noggin shows, most Disney shows and some of the earlier Nicktoons fall under this category. Pokemon barely fits in this category in the US.

TV-Y7/C8

TV-Y7 and C8 may be targeted for slightly different age groups (seven and over in the US, eight and older in Canada), but in essence, the same rating. Though neither country would ever admit it, this rating (and the ratings system as a whole) was partially inspired by the Goosebumps series that aired on Fox. When Fox greenlit the series, the network placed a GB-7 rating on it before each episode due to the "mild scare factor." When the TV ratings went into effect officially, Goosebumps turned their GB-7 into TV-Y7. TV-Y7 and C8 are designated for shows filled with cartoonish violence, rude behavior, and other subversive materials. In other words, the good shows. In many cases, these are often the highest-rated shows on Saturday morning broadcast television. These shows also bring in the most revenue for kid-oriented cable networks as well.

TV-Y7 FV

This special variation of TV-Y7 is dedicated to the action shows that have become the building blocks of cable and broadcast lineups. The "FV," which stands for fantasy violence, came into effect sometime after critics complained that the original ratings didn't do enough to tell why those ratings were in place. The additional standards are V (Violence), S (Sexual Content), L ("Offensive" Language), and D ("Suggestive" Dialogue). What is deemed "fantasy violence?" Gunplay without blood splurting out everywhere. Espionage missions. Card games. Alien battles. Swordplay. Martial artistry. Fun times. TV-Y7 FV shows have always been a part of blocks like Cartoon Network's Toonami and Fox Kids (now Fox Box) and has made companies like FUNimation and 4Kids Entertainment very rich and powerful.

TV-G/G

The "generic" rating by critics. These ratings are purely the family-friendly rating that the governments wished all shows could be. However, about 5% of prime-time shows carry this rating. G stands for General Audiences on both sides of the border. It's found mostly on cooking/do-it-yourself shows, game shows, most "classic" sitcoms, some science/nature documentaries, and cartoons that are just the borderline between TV-Y/C and TV-Y7/C8, like classic theatrical shorts, Dexter's Laboratory, The Flintstones, Top Cat, and others.

TV-PG/PG

TV-PG/PG is the primetime/live-action may be the literal equivalent of TV-Y7/C8 rating, but it's function is almost the adult equivalent of TV-Y/C. The guidelines for TV-PG/PG are similar to TV-Y7 (both aimed toward programming gaimed towards viewers aged seven [eight in Canada] and older). However, this particular rating is geared for shows not made for children viewers in mind. Many of the family-friendly primetime shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, My Wife and Kids, and The Simpsons tend to carry this rating rather than TV-G/G.

TV-14/14+

TV-Y7/C8 may be the literal reinterpretation of TV-PG/PG, but when it comes to the big picture ratings and moneywise, it's figurative counterpart is TV-14/14+. This rating is also the most misunderstood. Most people tend to believe that TV-14/14+ means "adult." On primetime broadcast television and most cable networks, it's the highest allowable rating they can air. The literal definition of the TV-14/14+ rating means that this program is not intended for viewers under the age of 14 (i.e. high-school age). That's why Adult Swim changed their disclaimer at the beginning of the block. TV-14/14+ rated programs are amongst the highest rated shows on both broadcast television and cable television, from the likes shows ranging from Friends and Family Guy to WWE Raw and CSI to Cowboy Bebop and Angel to soap operas and Conan O'Brien. They're the most popular and, in the same breath, some of the most criticized shows on television due to their overt sexual references, violence, and the use of certain profanities. Of course, they're not the limit of what can and can't be shown on television.

TV-MA/18+

The Sopranos. Six Feet Under. Sex and the City. Oz. South Park. The Shield. Nip/Tuck. These shows are brutal, raw, unflinching, and very controversial. They were clearly made for adult audiences only. Some shows come mighty close to being TV-MA/18+ (Aqua Teen Hunger Force has been creeping towards that rating, but just barely squeaks by with a TV-14 stateside). The TV-MA-rated shows are often critically praised and usually dominating award shows in recent years. The fact that these shows are so lauded has frustrated broadcast television executives, who feel that they are shackled by the FCC and can't "go as far" as their cable counterparts. Truth be told, the label is given according to each network's guidelines. In the US, there is a "safe harbor" time period (between 10 PM and 6 AM) that says that they can air whatever they want. Strangely, broadcast networks haven't exactly used that leeway to their advantage, and if the current climate in Washington continues, that "safe harbor" may be gone forever. Still, there are certain shows that don't have to be rated nor be governed by these television guidelines and can show whatever they want, whenever.

The Exempt Shows

In Canada, there are several types of shows and programming that don't have to be rated at all. These shows include newscasts, news and public affairs programs, documentaries, sporting events, music videos, variety shows, and talk shows. In the US, that list is very short, due to the fact that in this country, critics made ratings system largely because of content seen in music videos and talk shows like Jerry Springer. Newscasts, news and public affairs programs, and some sporting events are exempt from being rated. However, newscasts are amongst the most violent shows on the air today. The average newscast includes violence, implied violence or sexual situations, and disturbing scenes. If this was a fair world, the average newscast would be rated TV-14.