WeDriftEternal t1_ixvyxwy wrote
TV ratings don’t really exist. They aren’t “real”. Don’t ever care what a tv show is or is not rated. The network just slaps on whatever rating they want and there aren’t a lot of rules around it outside of deals with cable companies.
Movie ratings are a complete clusterfuck too, but in a different way, and G is generally reserved now for content for very young kids. Was not always the case, but that’s todays version
If you're trying to put logic into ratings of these stuff, you're gonna have a hard time.
After_Hovercraft7822 t1_ixw49oa wrote
> TV ratings don’t really exist. They aren’t “real”. Don’t ever care what a tv show is or is not rated.
We have TV ratings in the US.
It’s just a way to tell parents (or your TV’s V-chip), if the upcoming program is appropriate. It started in the 90s and was a direct response to the rise of cable, and television programs becoming less and less appropriate for younger viewers.
> The network just slaps on whatever rating they want
The networks are more careful with the ratings than that. The consequence of getting it wrong is FCC declaring the rating system ineffective and taking it over.
You have to remember, the voluntary ratings were a welcome alternative to having a strict censorship board from the FCC oversee all broadcast programming in the US. The ratings and their subsequently added granularity has been unanimously supported by networks and advocacy groups.
WeDriftEternal t1_ixw4rnz wrote
The FCC will never get involved. They did not want to ever get involved, and they just had the networks do something fake to shut up the religious people screaming about Married with Children. Ratings for TV aren't real, they have some internal controls but its totally irrelevant. TV ratings are just total nonsense. No one considers them real or valid, their main usage is actually in carriage contracts and that most cable channels will only air shows rated TV-MA after a certain hour (but not always the case). And on some young kids channels, they can't show above TV-PG. But these are deals within carriage agreements, and no one actually monitors it on any side, it more has to do with that it makes it more difficult to change channel content/style in mid-contract.
Anyone who thinks these are effective, real, or anything but a vanity plate is wrong, its not. Its all fake.
After_Hovercraft7822 t1_ixwl1eo wrote
I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. How are ratings “vanity plates”? How are they ineffective?
They’re ratings. They tell the viewer what type of content to expect so they can judge if it’s appropriate. That’s what ratings are for. They’re as functional as any other label.
In the 90s, the FCC absolutely wanted to get involved, off the heels of Tipper Gore’s (she was the Vice First Lady, which held more of a cultural tone-setter role here in the US up until the mid-00s) efforts to “protect the children”. The US has long history of government agencies and law enforcement enforcing “decency” laws and ordinances over film, TV, radio, and music. In almost every medium (except arguably radio), an advocacy group was formed, pooled their influence, pushed back, and ended up forming a voluntary ratings board (ESRB, MPAA, parental advisory labels, etc etc).
WeDriftEternal t1_ixwlfuk wrote
No, TV ratings are just fake there to make it seem like they exist. They are not real. Its a vanity plate, its not like actual real or has effect, outside of some carriage deals, which I have to assume at this point you don't know what content covenants and such are.
The FCC was never going to get involved. Never. The networks made a fake "ratings" system just to get the religious folks off their ass, it was all fake situation to shut people up. The networks knew it, the FCC did, the religious people knew it. Smoke and mirrors. It was "ok, if we just fake it will everyone shut up? Yeah? Ok"
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