CHARLESTON, SC – Today, activists in Washington continued their push for increased Government control over what you watch on television. These same activists continue to tell only part of the story with hopes that the Government will impose their viewing preferences on all of us.

They tell us that complaints are a sign of America’s outrage over programming but they don’t tell you that the majority, many times up to 99% of complaints per show, are generated by their own online complaint campaigns, and filed by people who have not even watched the show they are complaining about. They tell us that parents’ content blocking tools don’t work, yet they have created their own to promote what they define as official family friendly approved shows. They tell us parents aren’t using parental controls but they don’t tell you that, according to a recent Census Bureau report, an overwhelming majority of Americans use the number one parental control – actively monitoring what their children watch. They tell us Americans want more government regulation but when actually asked, Americans say that parents should make the decision, not government.

“Parents don't need any more lectures from pro-censorship activists. Rather, the activists need to listen to what Americans really want. Parents have the tools they need to make informed decisions about content,” said Jim Dyke, TV Watch Executive Director. “This poll shows that universally, regardless of age, race, income, education, location, or political philosophy, a majority of Americans believe PARENTS, not the government, should make the decision.”

In a poll conducted by Kelton Research on February 26, 2007, 75% of Americans surveyed said they believe parents should decide what their kids should and shouldn’t watch on TV rather than the government taking control of what they watch.

Poll Results:

SOME PEOPLE want the government to expand its control over programming on television networks, such as NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX, by determining what types of violent programming can be shown on television. If this is implemented, the only violent programming that will be allowed on these national networks will be what the government views as acceptable.

OTHERS argue that parents should use available tools to decide what their kids can watch on television, instead of having the government do it for them. Parental involvement, they say, is the best way to keep kids from seeing what their parents feel is inappropriate for them. Parents have enough information, with the ratings system, and enough tools, like parental controls, to block their kids’ access to programs they find objectionable.

Having now heard both sides of the argument, do you believe…

Response: It’s Up To Parents to Exercise Greater Responsibility In Deciding What Their Kids Should Or Should Not Be Watching On Television
Total: 753
Percentage: 75%

Response: The Government Should Expand Its Control Over Television Networks And Make Decisions About What Everyone Sees
Total: 219
Percentage: 22%

Response: Don’t Know/Refused
Total: 28
Percentage: 3%

[*All decimals are rounded to the nearest percentage point. This may result in certain numerical totals adding up to slightly more or slightly less than 100]

The poll’s overall margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3.1 percent.

TV Watch was launched in May 2005 and is the leading national organization to promote parental controls and individual choices as an alternative to increased government regulation of TV content. TV Watch is a nonpartisan coalition of 27 individuals and organizations including legal and entertainment experts and political and consumer organizations representing more than four million Americans. For more information about TV Watch, visit TelevisionWatch.org or contact Emily Tyner at (843) 722-9670.