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{{short description|Non-profit advocacy group in the United States}}
{{About|the socially conservative activist group|the TV guidelines and list of advisories|TV Parental Guidelines}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Parents Television and Media Council
| formation = {{Start date and age|1995}}
| logo = Parents Television Council logo.svg
| logo_size = 100px
| type = [[Advocacy group]]
| abbreviation = PTMC
| formerly = Parents Television Council (1995-2021)
| founder = [[L. Brent Bozell III]]
| leader_title2 = [[Emeritus|President emeritus]]
| leader_name2 = Tim Winter
| website = {{URL|parentstv.org}}
| footnotes = <ref name="NYT2010">{{cite news|title=TV Watchdog Group Is on the Defensive|work=The New York Times|author=Barnes, Brooks|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/25/business/media/25watchdog.html|date=October 25, 2010|page=B1|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062404/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/25/business/media/25watchdog.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref>
| focus = "Bringing back responsibility and [[family values]] to the [[entertainment industry]]"
| headquarters = [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]], [[Virginia]] and [[Los Angeles]], California
| location_country = United States
| method = Media attention, direct-appeal campaigns
| membership = 12,000 (disputed)
| leader_title = [[President (corporate title)|President]]
| leader_name = Jon Yasuda
}}
The '''Parents Television and Media Council''' ('''PTMC'''), formerly the '''Parents Television Council''' ('''PTC'''), is an American media [[advocacy group]] founded by [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] political pundit [[L. Brent Bozell III]] in 1995, which advocates for what it considers to be responsible, [[family-friendly]] content across all media platforms, and for advertisers to be held accountable for the content of television programs that they sponsor. The PTMC officially describes itself as a [[Nonpartisanism|non-partisan]] organization, although the group has also been described as [[Partisan (politics)|partisan]] and [[Social conservatism|socially conservative]].
The PTMC produces reviews, research reports, and online newsletters that highlight television programs and other entertainment products (such as [[music video]]s and [[video games]]) based on their suitability for family viewing. The PTMC has advocated for cable television networks to be subject to the same decency rules as broadcast television, and for television providers to allow subscribers to [[A la carte pay television|purchase channels on an individual basis]]. The group has also been critical of the [[TV Parental Guidelines]] system, often deeming the ratings given by broadcasters to be inaccurate in comparison to their own assessments of a program's content.
It has mounted pressure campaigns against the producers, broadcasters, and sponsors of programming that they perceive to be [[indecent]] or harmful to children (such as those containing undue sexual content, profane language, and violence); these campaigns typically include the organized mass mailing of [[form letter]]s and emails to advertising sponsors of unapproved programs, organized mass filing of complaints via the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) website complaint form, and direct threats of long, potentially costly FCC license challenges to local [[network affiliate]]s planning to broadcast what the council considers harmful network programming.<ref>{{cite web|last=Abrams|first=Natalie|date=May 20, 2010|title=Parents Council Protests CBS' $#*! My Dad Says|url= https://www.tvguide.com/news/parents-protests-cbs-1018806/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523015218/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Parents-Protests-CBS-1018806.aspx|archive-date=May 23, 2010|access-date=April 18, 2022|work=TV Guide}}</ref>
Throughout its existence, the Parents Television and Media Council has been accused of promoting censorship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Parents Television Council REALLY Loves the Sin|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sexual-intelligence/201208/parents-television-council-really-loves-the-sin|access-date=July 13, 2015|work=Psychology Today}}</ref> In 2004, the FCC reported that the group was the primary source of most content complaints received by the commission.<ref name="NYT2010"/>
==History==
[[File:Steve Allen 1987 cropped.jpg|thumb|[[Steve Allen]], former host of ''The Tonight Show'', was PTC's honorary chairman and a member of its advisory board.]]
In 1989, the [[Media Research Center]] (MRC) began monitoring the entertainment industry for alleged liberal bias through its Entertainment Division and newsletter ''TV, etc.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/research/politicalphilosophy/hl380.cfm|title=Why Conservatives Should Be Optimistic About the Media|last=Bozell|first=L. Brent III|date=January 21, 1992|work=Heritage Lecture #380|publisher=Heritage Foundation|access-date=August 30, 2009|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315015903/http://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL380.cfm|archive-date=March 15, 2009}}</ref> MRC founder and president L. Brent Bozell III later felt that "decency" was declining on most prime-time television programming.<ref name="annual report 14"/><ref name="decency police">{{cite magazine |last= Poniewozik |first= James |title= The Decency Police |magazine= Time |date= March 20, 2005 |volume= 165 |issue= 13 |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/printout/0,8816,1039700,00.html|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050324144407/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1039700,00.html |archive-date= March 24, 2005 |url-status= live }}</ref> The PTC began operations in 1995 following private planning meetings with [[Charlton Heston]], [[Michael Medved]], and others in the entertainment industry, who would eventually make up the advisory board of the PTC. After the release of its first annual ''Family Guide to Prime-Time Television'' following the [[1995–96 United States network television schedule|1995–1996 television season]], the PTC hoped to hold the entertainment industry accountable for the indecency that it perceived to be prominent on prime-time television.<ref>{{Citation |title= 2005 Annual Report |publisher= Parents Television Council |year= 2006 |url= http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/joinus/AR2005.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060428212424/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/joinus/AR2005.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= April 28, 2006 |page= 13 }}</ref> By 1996, the organization had the support of several members of the [[U.S. Congress]], including [[Joe Lieberman]] and [[Lamar S. Smith]], and an estimated annual budget of $142,000.<ref name="annual report 14"/>
By 1998, with an estimated membership of 120,000,<ref name="annual report 15">{{Citation | title = 2005 Annual Report | publisher = Parents Television Council | year = 2006 | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/joinus/AR2005.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060428212424/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/joinus/AR2005.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 28, 2006 | page = 15 }}</ref> comedian and former ''[[The Tonight Show]]'' host [[Steve Allen]] joined PTC as its Honorary Chairman, and PTC released a report questioning the accuracy of the [[TV Parental Guidelines]] ratings system<ref>{{cite news|last=Broder|first=John M.|title=Broadcast Industry Defends Its TV Rating System|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/28/us/broadcast-industry-defends-its-tv-rating-system.html|work=The New York Times|date=February 28, 1997|page=A14|access-date=February 18, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062406/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/28/us/broadcast-industry-defends-its-tv-rating-system.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and campaigning for advertisers to stop sponsoring programs that the PTC claimed were offensive.<ref name="on the air 10 30 98">{{cite magazine|last=Flint|first=Joe|url= https://ew.com/article/1998/10/30/air-84/|title=On the Air|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 30, 1998|access-date=August 26, 2009|archive-date=January 9, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160109182610/http://www.ew.com/article/1998/10/30/air|url-status=live}}</ref> Allen launched a newspaper advertisement campaign promoting the PTC, which was published in many outlets including ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mifflin|first=Lawrie|title=A Call for Decency|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/14/arts/tv-notes-a-call-for-decency.html|work=The New York Times|date=October 14, 1998|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062408/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/14/arts/tv-notes-a-call-for-decency.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The PTC was noted for criticizing such shows as ''[[Ally McBeal]]'', ''[[Dawson's Creek]]'', ''[[Ellen (TV series)|Ellen]]'', ''[[Friends]]'', and ''[[Spin City]]''.<ref name="on the air 10 30 98"/><ref name="dawson filthy">"{{cite magazine|last=Flint|first=Joe|url=https://ew.com/article/1998/08/06/dawsons-creek-named-filthiest-tv-series/|title="Dawson's Creek" is named the filthiest TV series|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 6, 1998|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062429/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,83644,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Its website was also introduced that year, and its annual budget had already surpassed $1 million.<ref name="annual report 15"/> PTC rolled out another round of full-page newspaper advertisements in 1999; ''San Francisco Examiner'' television columnist Tim Goodman perceived Allen and the PTC of advocating complete censorship of television to allow only what PTC considered "Family-Safe TV".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/style/article/Sir-you-re-blocking-my-view-of-the-sewer-3059423.php|title=Sir, you're blocking my view of the sewer|last=Goodman|first=Tim|date=November 8, 1999|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>
The PTC lost nearly $1 million in 2008 and in 2009 received $2.9 million in revenue, a 29 percent drop from the previous year. In 2009 and 2010, the PTC cut its staff by 38 percent to save money.<ref name="NYT2010"/>
On April 14, 2021, the organization changed its name to the '''Parents Television and Media Council''' "to better reflect its mission to advocate for responsible entertainment on all entertainment media platforms".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parentstv.org/blog/ptc-announces-new-name-parents-television-and-media-council|title=PTC Announces New Name: Parents Television and Media Council}}</ref>
==Leadership==
[[File:Brent Bozell by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[L. Brent Bozell III]], a conservative political activist, founded the Parents Television and Media Council in 1995.]]
PTC was founded in 1995 by longtime political activist [[L. Brent Bozell III]]. Bozell is a prominent conservative activist who has, among other things, served as executive director of the Conservative Victory Committee, a [[political action committee]] that has supported the election of dozens of conservative candidates. He was also National Finance Chairman for Pat Buchanan's 1992 presidential campaign, and later president of the National Conservative Political Action Committee. Bozell was succeeded as PTC President by Timothy F. Winter.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thompson |first=Bob |title=Fighting Indecency, One Bleep At a Time |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=C1 |date=December 9, 2004 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2004/12/09/fighting-indecency-one-bleep-at-a-time/2be1a76e-bc1b-4e1d-898f-9f09d4f40ad8/ |archive-url= https://archive.today/20111023035854/http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A49907-2004Dec8?language=printer |archive-date=October 23, 2011 |access-date=April 18, 2022 }}</ref> Winter served as executive director of the PTC for three years prior to becoming president. Prior to joining the PTC, Mr. Winter's 20-year career as a media executive included positions with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM) and [[NBC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/aboutus/winterbio.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060105234511/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/aboutus/winterbio.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 5, 2006|title=Tim Winter - President|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=August 20, 2009}}</ref> Until 2015 when his position was terminated, Dan Isett, Director of Corporate and Government Affairs of the PTC, represented the PTC on the Consumer Advisory Committee of the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC).<ref>{{cite press release | title = Parents Television Council Appointed to FCC's Consumer Advisory Committee | publisher = Parents Television Council | date = July 26, 2007 | url = http://parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2007/0726.asp | access-date = July 30, 2007 | archive-date = September 7, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080907233420/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2007/0726.asp | url-status = dead }}</ref>
==Advisory board==
The PTC also has an advisory board consisting of [[politician]]s and [[entertainer]]s working to assist the council in their goal of protecting children against profanity and violence in the media. Notable members of the advisory board have included singer [[Pat Boone]], former football player [[Mel Renfro]], writer-producer Coleman Luck, [[country music|country]] musician [[Billy Ray Cyrus]], comedian and actor [[Tim Conway]] of [[CBS]]'s ''[[The Carol Burnett Show]]'', former [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from [[Kansas]] and [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential]] candidate [[Sam Brownback]], film critic [[Michael Medved]], star of 1980s soap opera ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' [[Susan Howard]], and [[ION Television]] producer Gary Johnson.<ref>{{cite web|title=Advisory Board|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/aboutus/advisoryboard/main.asp|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=November 27, 2008|archive-date=January 6, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106001409/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/aboutus/advisoryboard/main.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, the PTC has established numerous local chapters for most [[List of television stations in North America by media market#United States|American media markets]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/grassroots/main.asp|title=Parents Television Council Chapters|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=August 20, 2009|archive-date=January 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106013415/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/grassroots/main.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> Notable former advisory board members include - both of whom are now deceased - comedian [[Steve Allen]], original host of NBC's ''[[The Tonight Show]]'', and [[C. Delores Tucker]], participant in the [[Civil Rights Movement]] and activist against [[gangsta rap]] music; Allen is now given the title of National Honorary Chairman-Emeritus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/aboutus/advisoryboard/steveallen.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201112/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/aboutus/advisoryboard/steveallen.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2007|title=Steve Allen - National Honorary Chairman-Emeritus|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=August 5, 2009}}</ref> [[Bahçeşehir University]] associate professor Christian Christiansen questioned the backgrounds of certain PTC advisory board members as not consistent with their stance on morality.<ref name="Christensen">{{cite web
| last = Christensen
| first = Christian
| title = Pixelate the Morality Police
| work = CommonDreams.org
|date=January 26, 2005
| url = http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0126-23.htm
| access-date = September 12, 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050129033600/http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0126-23.htm
| archive-date = January 29, 2005
}}</ref>
==Publications==
===Columns and reports===
The website of the PTC features reports on what the group says is harmful content on television and regular writings from its staff. Their research is done with the support of their Entertainment Tracking System, an archive of [[prime-time television]] programming that they claim is the largest in the world.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040413034833/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/insider/2002/IAarchive.asp "Saving the World's Largest Archive of Prime-Time Television"]. Parents Television Council. Retrieved April 12, 2007.</ref> Such publications include:
* '''"Culture Watch"''' – Throughout 2005 and 2006, the PTC published columns under this series authored by Christopher Gildemeister, covering the influence on American culture by entertainment as well as exposing the increase in sex, violence, and profanity in cable television and the methods used by advertisers and broadcasting companies to attract young audiences.<ref>{{cite web|title=Culture Watch|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/culturewatch/archive.asp|publisher=Parents Television Council|date=September 28, 2007|access-date=July 29, 2007|archive-date=August 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807160655/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/culturewatch/archive.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> In a December 2005 column of his, ''[[Advertising Age]]'' columnist Simon Dumenco criticized the PTC, arguing that the PTC is "very very afraid of gay TV characters".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dumenco|first=Simon|title=Honey, I Shrank the Cable-TV Universe|periodical=Advertising Age|date=December 12, 2005|page=26}}</ref> Gildemeister defended the PTC as being "not homophobic" but simply opposed to "sexual references or innuendo (of any variety, hetero, homo or other) aired where children might be exposed to them."<ref name="culture watch 12 26">{{cite web | last = Gildemeister | first = Christopher| title = Culture Watch - Exposing Sex, Violence, and Language in the Media - for the week of 12.26.05 (part 2 of 2) | publisher = Parents Television Council | date = December 26, 2006 | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/culturewatch/2005/1226.asp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930220801/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/culturewatch/2005/1226.asp | archive-date = September 30, 2007 | access-date = June 28, 2007 }}</ref>
* '''"Parenting and the Media"''' authored by Rod Gustafson, where he offers advice on parenting children who frequent the media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/rgcolumns/main.asp|title=Parenting and the Media: A Column by Rod Gustafson|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=July 29, 2007|archive-date=August 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807163927/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/rgcolumns/main.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*'''"TV Trends"''' – Another column by Christopher Gildemeister, published since October 2007 intending to inform parents and TV viewers in general about what he determines to be "harmful or questionable prime-time programming."<ref>{{cite web|title=TV Trends|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/TVTrends/main.asp|publisher=Parents Television Council|date=March 14, 2008|access-date=March 14, 2008|archive-date=March 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303234608/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/TVTrends/main.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Hartford Courant'' television critic Roger Catlin quoted Gildemeister as criticizing ABC for having an "apparent fetish for transsexuals" in certain programs.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/tv/on-tv-being-gay-is-so-pass-now-transexuals-are-in/|title=On TV, being gay is so passé; now transexuals are in|last=Catlin|first=Roger|date=November 11, 2007|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>
*Former president Bozell's weekly entertainment column, which it links to within the home page
In 2000, PTC's report ''What a Difference a Decade Makes'' allegedly stated that there was an increase in profanity, sex, and violence on [[1990s in television|television during the 1990s]]. The report also claimed that references to homosexuality increased the most during that decade – by a factor of 24.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|2005|p=136}}</ref> In 2002, the PTC released a report claiming that there was an increase in profanity on network programming shown during the first hour of [[prime time]].<ref name="oh the profanity">{{cite news|last=Farhi |first=Paul |title=Oh, the Profanity! |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/2002/04/21/oh-the-profanity/d84bcab9-57a1-478c-b10f-8ab09fa5bc8c/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 19, 2002 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110630224330/http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A16027-2002Apr19 |archive-date=June 30, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> In a 2006 report titled ''Wolves in Sheep's Clothing'', analyst Kristen Fyfe reported an increase in violent, profane, and sexual content in children's programming.<ref name="wolves">{{citation | author = Kristen Fyfe| title = Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: A Content Analysis of Children's Television| publisher = Parents Television Council| date = March 2, 2006| url = http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/childrensstudy/childrensstudy.pdf| access-date = August 5, 2007| archive-date = August 8, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070808140158/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/childrensstudy/childrensstudy.pdf| url-status = live}}</ref> Among its results, based on research during summer 2005, the PTC stated that ''[[Teen Titans]]'' was the most violent program, and claimed [[Cartoon Network]] had the most violent incidents.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/02/children.television/index.html|title=Group: Children's TV isn't kid stuff|last=McManus|first=Michael|date=March 2, 2006|publisher=CNN|access-date=March 15, 2009|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062431/http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/02/children.television/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Richard Huff of the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' criticized the report for misinterpreting an episode of ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'', "[[Sailor Mouth]]", over its intent to satirize profanity implicitly.<ref>{{cite web|last=Huff |first=Richard |title=A four-letter word for decency police: Lame |work=New York Daily News |date=March 4, 2006 |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/four-letter-word-decency-police-lame-article-1.630523|access-date=May 21, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106185047/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2006/03/07/2006-03-07_a_four-letter_word_for_decen.html |archive-date=November 6, 2010 }}</ref>
Following the [[2005–06 United States network television schedule|2005–06 television season]], PTC issued a report ''Faith in a Box'' that analyzed depictions of religion in primetime television. The study stated that most positive references to religion were on [[reality show]]s such as ''[[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]]'', while claiming that scripted shows tended to be more negative towards it.<ref>{{harvnb|Lipschultz|2008|pp=154–157}}</ref> The report also ranked [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] as the "most anti-religious network", followed by NBC, UPN, ABC, CBS, and the WB.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/ptc-unhappy-with-tv-s-religious-stereotypes-1117955772/|title=PTC unhappy with TV's religious stereotypes|last=Learmonth|first=Michael|date=December 14, 2006|work=Variety|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> In 2008, PTC published a report titled ''Happily Never After'', using analysis of several primetime shows early in the 2007-2008 television season that asserted that [[extramarital sex]] was more favored on television shows during that time period.<ref>{{cite news|title=Study: TV shows sex, but not in marriage|url= https://www.today.com/popculture/study-tv-shows-sex-not-marriage-1c9483863|agency=Associated Press|date=August 6, 2008|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> Ian O'Doherty of ''[[The Irish Independent]]'' asked regarding the PTC's marriage depiction study: "After all, would you rather watch people having fun or would you rather watch a realistic depiction of marriage, which ... would simply be an hour of two people sullenly chewing their food, pausing occasionally only to throw each other filthies and occasionally grumbling under their breath how the biggest regret of their life was ever setting eyes on you and that their mother was right all along?"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/truly-an-inspiration-to-us-all-1456239.html|title=Truly, an inspiration to us all|last=O'Doherty|first=Ian|date=August 15, 2008|work=The Irish Independent|access-date=September 30, 2009|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062413/https://www.independent.ie/opinion/independent-journalists/ian-odoherty/|url-status=live}}</ref> PTC released a report in October 2009 stating that prime-time television shows on broadcast networks had twice as many depictions of [[violence against women]] in 2009 than in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/arts/television/29arts-MORETVVIOLEN_BRF.html|title=Study: More TV Violence Against Women|last=Wyatt|first=Edward|date=October 29, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 13, 2009|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062436/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/arts/television/29arts-MORETVVIOLEN_BRF.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In November 2010, the PTC released a study, ''Habitat for Profanity: Broadcast TV's Sharp Increase in Foul Language'', which claims that there was a sharp rise in the usage of [[profanity]] between 2005 and 2010—during the 8 pm to 9 pm ET/PT time period commonly referred to them as the [[Family Viewing Hour]], the PTC claimed that there were 111 instances of profanity during this hour in 2010 versus 10 in 2005; during all of prime time, 276 instances in 2010 against 11 in 2005. The study claimed that there was a 69.3% increase in prime time in general between 2005 and 2010, with the Fox network being heavily accused of bringing a 269% increase for the network during that period. The study also claimed instances in which there was profanity, but the offending word was [[Bleep censor|bleeped out]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-report-notes-sharp-rise-primetime-broadcast-profanity-58124|title=PTC Report Notes "Sharp Rise" in Primetime Broadcast Profanity|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=November 9, 2010|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>
===Entertainment reviews and analysis===
The PTC's activities extend to evaluation, rating, and educating around broadcast TV programs according to a traffic light system across three categories of sex, violence and profanity, accumulating to an overall rating based on the ratings of these three categories. The guide has been in use since the [[1995–96 United States network television schedule|1995–96 season]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Carroll|first=Jerry|title=A Finger Wagger's Guide to Television|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/A-Finger-Wagger-s-Guide-to-Television-3017614.php|work=San Francisco Examiner|page=B3|date=December 26, 1995|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> using the traffic light system.<ref name="annual report 14">{{Citation | title = 2005 Annual Report | publisher = Parents Television Council | year = 2006 | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/joinus/AR2005.pdf | page = 14 | access-date = September 4, 2008 | archive-date = February 26, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090226031742/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/joinus/AR2005.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> In the PTC's definition of its traffic light system, green light indicates that the program is "appropriate for all ages", a yellow light indicates that the program "would be unsuitable for children under the age of 14", and a red light indicates that the program is "appropriate for adult audiences only".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/familyguide/Ratings.asp|title=Family Guide to Prime Time Television|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=August 16, 2011|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606053846/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/familyguide/Ratings.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Every television season since 1995–96, the council has released a list of the best and worst prime-time television programs for family viewing. The PTC's website includes the guide from the [[1996–97 United States network television schedule|1996-97 season]] at the earliest.<ref name="bw9697">{{cite web | title = Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Primetime TV 1996-1997 | work = ParentsTV.org | publisher = Parents Television Council | year = 1997 | url = http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/97top/main.asp | access-date = June 3, 2007 | archive-date = April 22, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120422160527/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/97top/main.asp | url-status = live }}</ref> Starting with the 2005–2006 season, their list was based on their traffic light system as well as [[Nielsen Media Research]] ratings of viewership among children ages 2–17 of certain shows.<ref name="bw0506"/> Popular shows that have frequently been praised as the most family-friendly programs on television include ''[[George Lopez (TV series)|George Lopez]]'',<ref name="bw0102">{{cite web|title=Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Primetime Network TV 2001-2002 |work=ParentsTV.org |publisher=Parents Television Council |year=2002 |url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2002/main.asp |access-date=June 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609011639/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2002/main.asp |archive-date=June 9, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="best0203">{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2003/top10best.asp|title=Top 10 Best Shows on Primetime Network TV 2002-2003|publisher=Parents Television Council|year=2003|access-date=December 16, 2007|archive-date=June 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604212241/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2003/top10best.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]'', ''[[Touched by an Angel]]'', ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'', ''[[Family Matters]]'', ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina the Teenage Witch]]'', ''[[Boy Meets World]]'',<ref name="bw9899">{{cite web | title = PTC's Annual Top 10 Best & Worst Family Shows on Network Television, 1998-99 TV Season | work = ParentsTV.org | publisher = Parents Television Council | year = 1999 | url = http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/99top/main.asp | access-date = June 28, 2007 | archive-date = January 18, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200118192002/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/99top/main.asp | url-status = dead }}</ref> ''[[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]]'', ''[[American Idol]]'', ''[[Dancing with the Stars]]'', ''[[NBC Sunday Night Football]]'', ''[[Deal or No Deal (American game show)|Deal or No Deal]]'',<ref name="bw0506">{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/main.asp|title=What Are Your Children Watching?: Research on sex, violence, and profanity on Television|publisher=Parents Television Council|year=2005|access-date=October 30, 2007|archive-date=December 11, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211215308/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/main.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (American game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire]]''. Popular shows frequently named "Worst of the Season" include ''[[American Dad!]]'',<ref name="bw0506"/> ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'',<ref name="bw0506"/><ref name="bw0102"/> ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'', ''[[South Park]],'' ''[[Two and a Half Men]]'', ''[[Ally McBeal]]'', ''[[Dawson's Creek]]'', ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'',<ref name="bw0506" /> ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]'', ''[[Family Guy]]'',<ref name="bw0506"/><ref name="bw9900">{{cite web|title=Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Primetime Network TV 1999-2000 |publisher=Parents Television Council |year=2000 |url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2000top/main.asp |access-date=June 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212220452/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2000top/main.asp |archive-date=December 12, 2006 }}</ref> ''Friends'',<ref name="bw9697"/> ''[[The O.C.]]'', ''[[Spin City]]'',<ref name="bw9697"/><ref name="bw9899"/> ''[[That '70s Show]]''<ref name="bw0102"/><ref name="bw9899"/> and ''[[Will and Grace]]''.<ref name="bw9697"/><ref name="bw9899"/>
On a weekly basis, the PTC publishes reviews of what they consider to be the best and worst television programming for family viewing, authored by the various entertainment analysts at the council.<ref>{{cite web|title=Best and Worst Family TV Shows of the Week|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/archive.asp|publisher=Parents Television Council|date=May 2, 2008|access-date=May 10, 2008|archive-date=April 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412001403/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/bw/archive.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Seth MacFarlane]], creator of ''Family Guy'', compared the PTC's frequent negative reviews of the series to "hate mail from Hitler" and "They're literally terrible human beings. I've read their newsletter, I've visited their website, and they're just rotten to the core. For an organization that prides itself on 'Christian' values ... they spend their entire day hating people."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2008/01/25/read-oscar-host-seth-macfarlanes-one-and-only-gay-interview?pg=full |title=Read Oscar Host Seth MacFarlane's One and Only Gay Interview |last=Voss |first=Brandon |date=January 25, 2008 |work=The Advocate |access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110104416/http://www.advocate.com/printArticle.aspx?id=22202 |archive-date=November 10, 2010 }}</ref> MacFarlane became a target again when the PTC protested the [[Academy Awards]]' decision to have him host the 85th ceremony.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/10/04/ptc-oscar-seth-macfarlane/|title=Parents group protests Oscars host Seth MacFarlane|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062441/https://ew.com/article/2012/10/04/ptc-oscar-seth-macfarlane/|url-status=live}}</ref> "So You Think You Can Rate a TV Show?", the title being a play on the title of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] television series ''[[So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series)|So You Think You Can Dance]]'', is a weekly column the PTC began in July 2007 to claim that networks inaccurately rate their shows based on the [[Television content rating systems#United States|TV Parental Guidelines]], whether the network applied the improper age-based rating (such as TV-PG or TV-14) or failed to include the proper content descriptors (such as "L" for [[profanity|language]] or "V" for [[violence]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=So You Think You Can Rate a TV Show?|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/ratings/main.asp|publisher=Parents Television Council|date=May 2, 2008|access-date=May 10, 2008|archive-date=May 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509200129/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/ratings/main.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Seal of Approval===
To recognize excellence in the media, the Parents Television Council awards its Seal of Approval to television shows, movies, home products, and advertisers that provide or sponsor content it deems to be "family-friendly". It is divided into two categories: Entertainment and Advertiser.<ref>{{cite web|title=The PTC Seal of Approval|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/awards/main.asp|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=August 5, 2009|archive-date=August 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816161417/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/awards/main.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> Popular television shows that have been awarded include ''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]'', ''[[American Idol]]'', ''[[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]]'', ''[[Everybody Loves Raymond]]'', ''[[George Lopez (TV series)|George Lopez]]'', ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'', ''[[Reba (TV series)|Reba]]'', ''[[Smallville (TV series)|Smallville]]'', ''[[Touched by an Angel]]'', ''[[The West Wing]]'', ''[[The Wonderful World of Disney]]'', and most recently, ''[[When Calls the Heart]]''. Also receiving the Entertainment Seal of Approval are [[TiVo]]'s KidZone television filtering service, The Jimmy Wilson Films Children's Adventure Series, the [[Sky Angel]] [[Christianity|Christian]] television service, and the [[CleanFlicks]] DVD filtering product.<ref>{{cite web|title=The PTC Seal of Approval - Recipients|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/awards/soa/ESOA.asp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907022249/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/awards/soa/ESOA.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 7, 2012|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=August 5, 2009}}</ref>
==Activism==
===Broadcast indecency===
In 2003, the PTC unsuccessfully campaigned for the FCC to take action against the NBC television network in response to the use of the word "[[wikt:fucking|fucking]]" by [[Bono]], lead singer for the rock band [[U2]], during NBC's January 2003 telecast of the [[Golden Globe Awards]]. Among an audience of nearly 20 million, the FCC received only 234 complaints, 217 of which came from the PTC.<ref>{{harvnb|Lane|2006|p=43}}</ref> In October 2003, the FCC decided not to fine NBC because Bono's obscenity was ruled as fleeting and not describing sexual or excretory functions, the FCC's standard for fining a network for indecency.<ref>{{cite news | title = FCC OKs Bono's F-Word Slip | publisher = CBS News |date=October 7, 2003 | url =https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fcc-oks-bonos-f-word-slip/| access-date = April 18, 2022 }}</ref> After the PTC filed an Application for Review to the FCC, in March 2004 the FCC decided that the word was indecent by law but still decided not to fine NBC; however, the ruling was to serve as a warning to networks that there would be a "zero tolerance" policy towards obscene language willfully used during the daytime.<ref>{{harvnb|Lane|2006|pp=44–45}}</ref> However, the PTC's complaints about profanity used by presenter [[Nicole Richie]] in the December 10, 2003, broadcast of the ''Billboard Music Awards'' led the FCC to conclude that the language violated decency law.<ref>{{harvnb|Lipschultz|2008|pp=133–134}}</ref>
The PTC began attracting more attention after it filed around 65,000<ref>{{cite web|title=Broadcast Indecency Campaign|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/fcc/Complaints.asp|publisher=Parents Television Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503021051/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/fcc/Complaints.asp|archive-date=May 3, 2007}}</ref> complaints to the FCC about the [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy|Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show]], in which one of performer [[Janet Jackson]]'s nipple shielded breasts, was exposed for 9/16ths of a second. FCC chairman [[Michael Powell (attorney)|Michael Powell]] stated that the number of indecency complaints to the FCC had risen from 350 in the years 2000 and 2001, to 14,000 in 2002 and 240,000 in 2003.<ref name="mediaweek 2004">{{cite news | last = Shields | first = Todd | title = Activists Dominate Content Complaints | work = Mediaweek | publisher = Parents Television Council |date=December 6, 2004 | url = http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000731656 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050213091055/http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000731656 | archive-date = February 13, 2005 | access-date = June 28, 2007 }}</ref> It was also found that the PTC had generated most of the indecency complaints received by the FCC.<ref name="mediaweek 2004" /><ref name="lynetterice">{{Cite news| last = Rice| first = Lynette| title = Four TV execs come clean about on-air decency rules| newspaper = [[Entertainment Weekly]]| issue = #933| pages = 43| date = May 11, 2007| url = https://ew.com/article/2007/05/03/four-tv-execs-come-clean-about-air-decency-rules/| access-date = April 18, 2022| archive-date = December 30, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062421/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20037552_2,00.html| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Fisher | first = Ken | title = Activist organization responsible for 99% of FCC complaints | work = arstechnica.com | publisher = Ars Technica | date = December 7, 2004 | url = https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2004/12/4442-2/ | access-date = April 18, 2022 | archive-date = December 30, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062423/https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2004/12/4442-2/ | url-status = live }}</ref> In July 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit voided the fine.<ref>{{cite news|last=Loviglio |first=Joann |title=Appeals court throws out fine against CBS in 'wardrobe malfunction' incident |url= https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/appeals-court-throws-out-fine-against-cbs-in-wardrobe-malfunction-incident/ |work=The Seattle Times |agency=Associated Press |date=July 21, 2008|access-date=April 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901095604/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008065154_cbs22.html |archive-date=September 1, 2011 }}</ref>
[[File:Fcc complaints and fines 2001-2004.JPG|thumb|right|500px|PTC campaigns led to a great increase in FCC-issued fines and received complaints compared to those from previous years.]]
After the halftime show, the PTC launched five more FCC complaint drives, starting March 2004 with an episode of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s ''[[That '70s Show]]'' titled "Happy Jack", which revolved around character [[Eric Forman (That '70s Show)|Eric Forman]] being caught [[masturbating]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/action/70s/content.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905221449/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/action/70s/content.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 5, 2012|title=Content from the March 24, 2004 episode of Fox's That '70s Show|publisher=Parents Television Council|date=March 25, 2004}}</ref> The beginning of the [[2004–2005 United States network television schedule|2004–2005 television season]] sparked four new campaigns, the first being against NBC's animated series ''[[Father of the Pride]]'', stating that it contained a "barrage of sexual innuendo and profanity"<ref>{{cite web|last=Winter|first=Tim|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/action/fotp/emailH.htm|title=PTC E-Alert (Father of the Pride)|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=August 5, 2009|archive-date=June 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615025324/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/action/fotp/emailH.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> while being promoted "from the creators of ''[[Shrek]]''", which they felt would potentially attract children to watching the series. That campaign led to over 11,000 email complaints to the FCC.<ref>{{cite web | last = Halonen | first = Doug| title = PTC E-Mails Generate Results| work = Television Week| publisher = Parents Television Council |date=October 18, 2004 | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/2004/indecency_tvweek3.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071206041839/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/2004/indecency_tvweek3.htm | archive-date = December 6, 2007 | access-date = July 18, 2007 }}</ref> Later, shortly after [[CBS]] broadcast the word "[[fuck]]" during an airing of ''[[Big Brother 5 (American season)|Big Brother 5]]'', the PTC took action again, this time claiming that CBS ignored a warning from the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) that there would be zero tolerance toward unbleeped profanity.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/cbs-hit-f-word-complaint-104511|title=CBS Hit with F-Word Complaint|last=Eggerton|first=John|date=September 24, 2004|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> However, those complaints became moot when [[Viacom (1971-2005)|Viacom]], then-owners of CBS, settled with the FCC for $3.5 million regarding all allegedly indecent programming broadcast in the years around 2003 and 2004, including the ''Big Brother 5'' episode in question.<ref>{{cite web |title=Viacom, FCC reach $3.5 million agreement |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6573618 |website=NBC News |access-date=April 18, 2022 |date=November 24, 2004}}</ref> In March 2006, the FCC ruled that ''Father of the Pride'' was not indecent.<ref>{{citation | author = Martin, Kevin | author-link = Kevin Martin (FCC) | title = Notices of Apparent Liability and Memorandum Opinion and Order | version = FCC 06-17 | publisher = [[Federal Communications Commission]] | url = http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-17A1.pdf | display-authors = etal | access-date = January 14, 2008 | archive-date = April 17, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060417182351/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-17A1.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> Following were complaints about an October 2004 episode of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s short-lived teen drama ''[[Life As We Know It (TV series)|Life As We Know It]]'', which the PTC felt was sexually charged.<ref>{{cite web|last=Winter|first=Tim|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/action/lawki/email.htm|title=PTC E-Alert (Life As We Know It)|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=August 5, 2009|archive-date=February 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218074613/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/action/lawki/email.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The PTC started off 2005 with their campaign against the ''[[Without a Trace]]'' episode "Our Sons and Daughters", leading to CBS being fined for indecency in March 2006; the PTC objected to the depiction of teenagers participating in an [[orgy]] in that episode. CBS argued that the episode "featured an important and socially relevant storyline warning parents to exercise greater supervision of their teenagers."<ref name="eonline">{{cite news | last = Finn | first = Natalie | title = CBS Fined for "Trace" of Indecency | work = [[E!]] |date=March 15, 2006 |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/51883/cbs-fined-for-trace-of-indecency| access-date = April 18, 2022 }}</ref> The FCC fined CBS $3.63 million in March 2006 for this episode,<ref name="eonline" /> but after a court settlement, the network agreed to pay $300,000 in fines. At the end of January 2005, the FCC rejected a set of complaints that PTC filed between October 2001 and February 2004 for allegedly indecent programs such as NBC's ''[[Friends]]'', the WB's ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'', and Fox's ''[[The Simpsons]]''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Armas, Genaro C.|title=FCC denies 36 indecency complaints over "Friends", "The Simpsons" and other shows|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/012405/upd_075-4790.shtml|agency=Associated Press|date=January 24, 2005|access-date=November 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006003225/http://lubbockonline.com/stories/012405/upd_075-4790.shtml|archive-date=October 6, 2013}}</ref> The FCC received complaints from the PTC in the summer over an unedited broadcast of the lyric "who the fuck are you?" in [[The Who]]'s song "[[Who Are You (The Who song)|Who Are You]]" from the ''[[Live 8]]'' concert broadcast July 2, 2005, on ABC stations on the East Coast.<ref>{{harvnb|Lipschultz|2008|p=154}}</ref>
In 2006, PTC requested that the FCC deny broadcast license renewal for [[Salt Lake City]] CBS station [[KUTV]] because they felt that the broadcast of the ''Without a Trace'' episode that was ruled indecent violated community standards and that CBS failed to take action to reduce indecent content following the FCC fines.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pierce|first=Scott D.|title=Parents Television Council subverts process|url=https://www.deseret.com/2006/9/2/19971829/scott-d-pierce-parents-television-council-subverts-process|access-date=April 18, 2022|newspaper=Deseret News|date=September 2, 2006|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062426/https://www.deseret.com/2006/9/2/19971829/scott-d-pierce-parents-television-council-subverts-process|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Eggerton|first=John|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6493178.html|title=CBS Defends Inaction on Without a Trace|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=October 22, 2007|access-date=October 22, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062427/https://www.nexttv.com/}}</ref> Subsequently, CBS agreed to pay the FCC $300,000 to settle the KUTV license challenge.<ref>{{cite news|last=Eggerton|first=John|url=https://www.benton.org/headlines/cbs-pays-300000-settle-kutv-license-challenge|title=CBS Pays $300,000 To Settle KUTV License Challenge|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=November 23, 2007|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> Starting from December 2007,<ref>{{cite web|last=Hibberd |first=James |title=Parents Television Council Denounces CBS' 'Dexter' Plan |url= https://adage.com/article/james-hibberd-rated/parents-television-council-denounces-cbs-s-dexter-plan/122424 |work=TV Week |date=December 5, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216103322/http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/james-hibberd/2007/12/parents_television_council_den.php |archive-date=February 16, 2009 }}</ref> the organization demanded that CBS cancel its plan to rebroadcast an edited version of the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] drama ''[[Dexter (TV series)|Dexter]]'', whose title character was a serial killer and police forensics analyst,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/cast.do|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091002070444/http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/cast.do|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2009|title=Cast & Characters - Dexter Morgan/Michael C. Hall|publisher=Showtime|access-date=August 30, 2009}}</ref> because it felt that the program would glorify [[murder]] even with the edits. By early February 2008, the Council claimed to have collected 17,000 complaints to CBS.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stelter|first=Brian|title=Showtime's Serial Killer Moves to CBS, to a Not Entirely Warm Welcome|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/arts/television/16dext.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 16, 2008|access-date=March 6, 2008|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062427/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/arts/television/16dext.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
On January 25, 2008, the FCC proposed an estimated $1.4 million fine against ABC for a scene of female nudity in the ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' episode "[[Nude Awakening]]" aired on February 25, 2003. Because the episode aired outside the indecency "safe harbor" in the Central and Mountain Time Zones, the fine applied only to ABC stations in those zones.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/97613-FCC_Proposes_1_4M_Fine_Against_ABC_Stations_for_NYPD_Blue.php|title=FCC Proposes $1.4M Fine Against ABC Stations for NYPD Blue|last=Eggerton|first=John|date=January 25, 2008|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=August 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062437/https://www.nexttv.com/}} During the [[2002–03 United States network television schedule|season]] when the episode aired, ''NYPD Blue'' was shown on ABC on Tuesdays, 10:00 p.m. (Eastern and Pacific Time Zones) and 9:00 P.M. in the Central and Mountain zones.</ref> The PTC praised the FCC's action.<ref>{{cite news|last=Eggerton|first=John|title=PTC Praises FCC's Proposed NYPD Blue Fine|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-praises-fccs-proposed-nypd-blue-fine-27808|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=January 28, 2008|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> However, PTC president Winter condemned ABC's decision to appeal the fine in federal court.<ref>{{cite news|last=Teinowitz|first=Ira|title=ABC Challenges FCC's 'NYPD Blue' Fine in Court|url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/02/abc_challenges_fccs_nypd_blue.php|work=TV Week|date=February 21, 2008|access-date=March 6, 2008|archive-date=February 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227014626/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/02/abc_challenges_fccs_nypd_blue.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> PTC has also criticized the [[Third Circuit Court of Appeals]]' decision to void the FCC's fine for the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show.<ref>{{cite web|last=Eggerton|first=John|title=CBS' Janet Jackson Fine Thrown Out|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/cbs-janet-jackson-fine-thrown-out-32831|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=July 21, 2008|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> TV series that the PTC has targeted for FCC complaints in 2008 have included NBC's ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]'' morning show and CBS primetime programs ''[[Big Brother 10 (American season)|Big Brother 10]]'', ''[[Survivor: Gabon]]'', and ''[[Two and a Half Men]]''. Profanity was the main concern for ''Today'' and ''Big Brother 10'',<ref>{{cite press release|title=CBS's 'Big Brother' Drops an F-Bomb on Families|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/news/release/2008/0806.asp|publisher=PTC|date=August 6, 2008|access-date=November 27, 2008|archive-date=August 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080811220204/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2008/0806.asp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=PTC Slams NBC for Airing Yet Another Unbleeped Profanity on the Today Show|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2008/0911.asp|publisher=PTC|date=September 11, 2008|access-date=November 27, 2008|archive-date=January 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106171057/http://www.parentstv.org./PTC/news/release/2008/0911.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> the extremely brief exposure of contestant Marcus Lehman's penis for ''Survivor: Gabon'',<ref>{{cite news|last=de Moraes|first=Lisa|title='Survivor' Reveals a Bit Too Much for Watchdog Group|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/01/AR2008100103062.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 2, 2008|page=C7|access-date=September 7, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062605/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/01/AR2008100103062.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and a "lap-dance" scene for ''Two and a Half Men''.<ref>{{cite press release|title=PTC: CBS Crosses Indecency Line with 'Two and a Half Men'|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2008/1022.asp|publisher=PTC|date=October 22, 2008|access-date=November 3, 2008|archive-date=October 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030024833/http://parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2008/1022.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> The PTC's first complaint in 2009 was over sexual content in an episode of ''[[Family Guy]]'' titled "[[Family Gay]]".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-outraged-over-family-guy-episode-55790|title=PTC Outraged Over 'Family Guy' Episode|last=Eggerton|first=John|date=March 11, 2009|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=March 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316192410/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/189799-PTC_Outraged_Over_Family_Guy_Episode.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2009/03/foxs-family-guy-has-parents-television-council-seeing-red-indecency-complaint-reflects-ptcs-renewed-.html |title=Fox's "Family Guy" has Parents Television Council seeing red; indecency complaint reflects PTC's renewed activism |last=Boedeker |first=Hal |date=March 11, 2009 |work=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=March 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315073720/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2009/03/foxs-family-guy-has-parents-television-council-seeing-red-indecency-complaint-reflects-ptcs-renewed-.html |archive-date=March 15, 2009 }}</ref> Later in 2009, the PTC urged affiliates of [[The CW]] to pre-empt a ''[[Gossip Girl (TV series)|Gossip Girl]]'' episode to be aired November 9; the episode would reportedly contain a [[threesome]] scene.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-pushes-stations-preempt-gossip-girl-35700|title=PTC Pushes Stations To Preempt 'Gossip Girl'|last=Eggerton|first=John|date=November 3, 2009|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=November 8, 2009|archive-date=July 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707232035/https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-pushes-stations-preempt-gossip-girl-35700|url-status=live}}</ref> In response to [[Adam Lambert]]'s performance of his song "[[For Your Entertainment (song)|For Your Entertainment]]" at the end of the [[2009 American Music Awards]] broadcast on ABC, PTC urged viewers to complain to the FCC if living in an area where the performance was shown before 10 p.m. local time. PTC complained that the performance contained a simulation of [[oral sex]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-upset-over-adam-lambert-ama-performance-56798|title=PTC Upset Over Adam Lambert AMA Performance|last=Eggerton|first=John|date= November 23, 2009|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=August 21, 2022|archive-date=November 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126052841/http://www.broadcastingcable.com:80/article/390281-PTC_Upset_Over_Adam_Lambert_AMA_Performance.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Lambert's performance reportedly was broadcast around 11 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time, "outside the FCC's usual 6am-10pm time frame prohibiting the broadcast of indecent material".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/adam-lamberts-amas-performance-draws-1500-complaints-250192/ |title=Adam Lambert's AMAs Performance Draws 1,500 Complaints |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109182609/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/adam-lamberts-amas-performance-draws-1-500-complaints-20091124 |archive-date=January 9, 2016|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> ABC also received about 1,500 telephoned complaints.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/adam-lambert/news/abc-lamberts-performance-draws-1-500-complaints--61996642 |title=ABC: Lambert's performance draws 1,500 complaints |date=November 23, 2009 |work=Yahoo! Music |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=November 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612080914/http://music.yahoo.com/adam-lambert/news/abc-lamberts-performance-draws-1-500-complaints--61996642|archive-date= June 12, 2012}}</ref>
In January 2010, the PTC launched a complaint campaign after the ''[[American Dad!]]'' episode "[[Don't Look a Smith Horse in the Mouth]]" aired in January 2010. The FCC fined Fox $25,000 on June 4, stating that they failed to respond to an inquiry of 100,000 complaints about the episode.<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Ted|title=FCC fines Fox over 'American Dad' episode|url=https://variety.com/2010/scene/markets-festivals/fcc-fines-fox-over-american-dad-episode-1118020180/|work=Variety|date=June 4, 2010|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> A month later, Fox slammed the decision, claiming that it was "unconstitutional".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/fox-fcc-american-dad-inquiry-unconstitutional-36567|title=Fox to FCC: 'American Dad' Inquiry is Unconstitutional|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=April 18, 2022|date=July 6, 2010}}</ref> On May 20, 2010, the PTC announced that it plans to target CBS and its affiliates after the network announced that the new sitcom ''[[Bleep My Dad Says|$#*! My Dad Says]]'' was added to the 2010-2011 fall TV lineup. The PTC cites both the show's title and its Thursday 8:30 pm timeslot as reasons. The series is based on the popular [[Twitter]] [[Shit My Dad Says|account]] created by Justin Halpern, who also served as one of the co-producers on the show. CBS defended its decision and said that it was working with the account's creator and its content was toned down for the program before the series premiere in September.<ref>{{cite web|last=Eggerton|first=John|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-takes-aim-my-dad-says-36450|title=PTC Takes Aim At '$#*! My Dad Says'|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=May 20, 2010|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>
In October 2010, the PTC targeted an episode of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] series ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]'', stating that the episode featured outfits that were scantily clad and guest-star [[Britney Spears]] going shopping in lingerie, calling it, "an endorsement of narcotics abuse, public masturbation, and school-sanctioned burlesque." They were also criticizing it for making an episode idolizing Britney in the first place, stating: "Perhaps most troubling is the deification of a troubled popstar into a symbol of empowerment and self-esteem."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2010/10/britney-spears-glee-ripped-by-parents-television-council|title=Britney Spears, Glee Torn a New One By Parents Television Council|date=October 8, 2010|publisher=The Hollywood Gossip}}</ref> On October 20, PTC criticized ''[[GQ]]'' magazine for featuring three ''Glee'' stars posing in risque outfits; the PTC statement said that the photoshoot "borders on [[pedophilia]]."<ref name="NYT2010" /><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hibberd|first=James|title=Sexy 'Glee' Photos Draw 'Pedophilia' Protests|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sexy-glee-photos-draw-pedophilia-protests-953207/|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405215518/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/953207/sexy-glee-photos-draw-pedophilia-protests|archive-date=April 5, 2013|date=October 20, 2010|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>
In January 2011, the PTC called on the [[United States Department of Justice]] and the [[Judiciary Committee (disambiguation)|Judiciary Committees]] of both houses of Congress to investigate whether [[MTV]] violated [[Child pornography laws in the United States|child pornography laws]] in casting teenaged actors in ''[[Skins (American TV series)|Skins]]'', a remake of the [[Skins (TV series)|British TV series of the same name]]. MTV rated ''Skins'' "TV-MA", meaning the show is not suitable for audiences under 17.<ref>{{cite news|last=de Moraes|first=Lisa|title=Racy 'Skins' prompts Parents Television Council to call for investigation|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/20/AR2011012005397.html|access-date=January 25, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 21, 2011|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062541/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/20/AR2011012005397.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' responded in an editorial: "...looking for government remedies is ineffective and unwise; we suspect the network's editors are smart enough to skirt prosecution. The Federal Communications Commission doesn't regulate the content of cable networks, and even if it did, a crackdown on shows like "Skins" would be a bad idea, because adults should be able to watch whatever they like on cable and federal attempts to protect kids from adult programming have never been successful."<ref>{{cite news|title=Parents vs. 'Skins'|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-xpm-2011-jan-22-la-ed-mtv-20110122-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 22, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062626/https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-xpm-2011-jan-22-la-ed-mtv-20110122-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In August 2020, the PTC requested that [[Netflix]] remove the film ''[[Cuties]]'' from its [[Streaming media|streaming service]].<ref name="VarietyMcNary">{{cite news|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=August 20, 2020|title=Netflix Apologizes for 'Inappropriate' 'Cuties' Poster Slammed for 'Sexualizing' Little Girls|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/netflix-cuties-sexualizing-girls-1234741510/|url-status=live|access-date=August 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820200935/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/netflix-cuties-sexualizing-girls-1234741510/|archive-date=August 20, 2020}}</ref>
===Advertising===
In May 2005, [[Carl's Jr.]] introduced its "Spicy BBQ Six Dollar Burger" in a television advertisement featuring celebrity [[Paris Hilton]] in a swimsuit, soaping up a [[Bentley Arnage]] while leaning on it, and then eating the burger. A similar ad with Hilton for [[Hardee's]] hamburger chain was aired in June 2005.
The Parents Television Council and other media watchdog groups criticized the commercial for being shown during programs that were very likely to be watched by children. Melissa Caldwell, PTC research director, said, "This commercial is basically [[Softcore pornography|soft-core porn]]. The way she moves, the way she puts her finger in her mouth—it's very suggestive and very titillating."<ref>{{cite news| last = James| first = Meg| title = Critics are saying 'That's Too Hot' of sexy Carl's Jr. ad| work = [[Los Angeles Times]]| date = May 24, 2005| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-24-fi-paris24-story.html | access-date = April 18, 2022| archive-date = December 30, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062451/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-24-fi-paris24-story.html| url-status = live}}</ref> The group mobilized more than one million members to contact the restaurant chain and voice their concern and claimed that "[i]f this television commercial were to go unchallenged it would set a new standard for acceptable television commercial content." Caldwell, then-president Bozell, and then-executive director Winter appeared on various news programs such as ''[[Good Morning America]]'', ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]'', ''[[The Early Show]]'', ''[[American Morning]]'', and ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'' to discuss this issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/campaigns/TVads/main.asp|title=TV Ads: Advertiser and Network Campaign|publisher=Parents Television Council|year=2005|access-date=August 25, 2009|archive-date=June 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620091113/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/campaigns/TVads/main.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Andrew Puzder|Andy Puzder]], CEO of Carl's Jr., says the group needs to "get a life ... This isn't [[Janet Jackson]]—there is no nipple shield in this," referring to the [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime-show controversy]]. He continued, "There is no nudity, there is no sex act — it's a beautiful model in a swimsuit washing a car."<ref>{{cite news| last = Silver| first = Caleb| title = No apologies for sexy Paris Hilton ad| publisher = CNN| date = June 1, 2005| url = https://money.cnn.com/2005/05/24/news/newsmakers/carls_ad/| access-date = June 28, 2007| archive-date = December 30, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062458/https://money.cnn.com/2005/05/24/news/newsmakers/carls_ad/| url-status = live}}</ref> In addition to featuring the ad on their web site, Carl's Jr. also set up another website playing a longer version of the commercial.
PTC accused television commercials for Hardee's "biscuit holes" food product of suggesting double entendres. The commercial featured consumers suggesting "[[asshole|A-holes]]" and "B-holes" as nicknames for the biscuit holes. Boddie-Noell Enterprises, which owned 350 Hardee's restaurants in four states, refused to show the ads in its respective markets.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wolf|first=Alan M.|url=http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/07/23/article/hardees_ads_too_racy_for_nc_consumers|title=Hardee's ads too racy for N.C. consumers|work=Raleigh News & Observer|publisher=McClatchy News Service|date=July 23, 2009|access-date=June 7, 2010}}</ref> Ben Mayo Boddie, chairman of Boddie-Noell, wrote a letter to the PTC condemning the ads as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/money/hardee-ad-rejected-reviewers-choose-a-holes-b-holes-article-1.430718|title=Hardee's ad rejected for asking reviewers to choose between "A-holes" and "B-holes"|last=Roberts|first=Christine|date=July 23, 2009|work=New York Daily News|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>
===World Wrestling Federation campaign and lawsuit===
In 1999, the PTC launched a campaign against the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), now [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE), complaining that their ''[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'' program contained levels of sexuality and violence unbecoming prime time programming.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gordon|first=Devin|date=December 13, 1999|title=WWF Tones Down Its 'Smackdown' Act|work=Newsweek|url=https://www.newsweek.com/wwf-tones-down-its-smackdown-act-162738|url-status=live|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062429/https://www.newsweek.com/wwf-tones-down-its-smackdown-act-162738|archive-date=December 30, 2020}}</ref> In the campaign, Bozell said that four children had been killed by peers emulating [[professional wrestling]] moves learned from the program.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 1, 2000|title=PTC Calls MCI Worldcom to the Mat - archived on 31 October 2001|url=http://www.parentstv.org/publications/release/pr20000601.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011106164514/http://www.parentstv.org/publications/release/pr20000601.html|archive-date=November 6, 2001|work=Internet Archive Wayback Machine|publisher=Parents Television Council}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dempsey|first=John|date=May 28, 2001|title=WWF wins round 1 against parents org|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2001/biz/news/wwf-wins-round-1-against-parents-org-1117800064/|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref><ref name="WWF wins Round 1">{{cite news|date=May 28, 2001|title=News Shorts - WWF wins Round 1 against parents group|work=Media Life Magazine|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/may01/may28/3_wed/news7wednesday.html|url-status=dead|access-date=June 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025050900/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/may01/may28/3_wed/news7wednesday.html|archive-date=October 25, 2006}}</ref> With these allegations, Bozell and various PTC members began meeting with representatives of the advertising departments of various companies that advertised on ''SmackDown!'' to persuade them to withdraw sponsorship. The PTC also suggested that between 30 and 40 advertisers had pulled their commercials from WWF programming, an assertion that was not true.<ref name="WWF wins Round 1"/><ref name="judgereject">{{cite press release|title=Judge rejects Parents Television Council motion to Dismiss Lawsuit|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=May 24, 2001|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2001/2001_05_24.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609225904/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2001/2001_05_24.jsp|archive-date=June 9, 2009}}</ref>
On November 9, 2000, the WWF filed a lawsuit against the PTC in the [[U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York]], claiming that the PTC's statements were false and constituted [[defamation]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Suit Filed Against L. Brent Bozell III, Media Research Center|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=November 9, 2000|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2000/2000_11_09.jsp|access-date=August 8, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814190918/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2000/2000_11_09.jsp|archive-date=August 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=November 10, 2000|title=WWF Sues Media Watchdog Group|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-10-fi-49770-story.html|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> The WWF also filed a [[copyright infringement]] lawsuit against the PTC for using clips from WWF programs in their promotional videos.<ref name="judgereject"/> The PTC filed for dismissal of the suit, but on May 24, 2001, [[United States district court|U.S. district court]] Judge [[Denny Chin]] denied the PTC's motion on the basis that the WWF's lawsuit had merit.<ref name="judgereject"/> The PTC and the WWF settled out of court and, as part of the settlement agreement, the PTC paid the WWF $3.5 million [[United States Dollars|USD]] and Bozell issued a public apology,<ref name="Issues Apology">{{cite press release|title=World Wrestling Entertainment Settles Lawsuit With Parents Television Council; Founder Brent Bozell Issues Apology|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=July 8, 2002|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_07_08.jsp|access-date=June 16, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609225920/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_07_08.jsp|archive-date=June 9, 2009}}</ref> stating that it was wrong to blame the World Wrestling Federation or any of its programs for the deaths of children and that the original statements had been based on what was later found to be false information designed by people close to the [[Lionel Tate]] case to blame the death of Tiffany Eunick on the WWF.<ref>{{cite press release|title=World Wrestling Entertainment Settles Lawsuit With Parents Television Council; PTC Founder Brent Bozell Issues Apology.|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/World+Wrestling+Entertainment+Settles+Lawsuit+With+Parents+Television...-a088554235|date=July 8, 2002|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=June 16, 2009|archive-date=January 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109182609/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/World+Wrestling+Entertainment+Settles+Lawsuit+With+Parents+Television...-a088554235|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The PTC would be satirized in WWF programming by [[Right to Censor|The Right to Censor]], a [[Stable (professional wrestling)|group]] of [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heels]] led by [[Stevie Richards|Steven Richards]] who objected to rowdy, risqué, and "[[Hardcore wrestling|hardcore]]" activities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steven Richards discusses the politics of Right To Censor|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2000/11/07/the-politics-of-right-to-censor/|access-date=October 30, 2021|website=Slam Wrestling|date=November 7, 2000 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="btr167">{{cite book|last1=Fritz|first1=Brian|title=Between the Ropes: Wrestling's Greatest Triumphs and Failures|last2=Murray|first2=Christopher|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|year=2006|isbn=978-1-55022-726-0|page=167}}</ref><ref name="steelchair148">{{cite book|last=Sammond|first=Nicholas|title=Steel Chair to the Head|publisher=[[Duke University Press]]|year=2005|isbn=978-0-8223-3438-5|page=148}}</ref>
===In-flight entertainment===
In September 2007, the PTC launched a campaign to get [[airlines]] in America to reduce the number of "PG-13" and "R"-rated films shown as [[in-flight entertainment]]. Consequently, [[Heath Shuler]], [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] representative of [[North Carolina]], introduced the Family Friendly Flights Act of 2007 bill to require airlines to set aside "child-safe" viewing areas for families to sit in planes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Eggerton|first=John|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-seeks-flight-video-guidelines-54029|title=PTC Seeks In-Flight-Video Guidelines|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=September 28, 2007|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> The bill never became law.
===YouTube===
Twice has the PTC targeted video-hosting website [[YouTube]] in its campaigns and statements. PTC called for NBC to reconsider uploading the uncensored clip of the ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' novelty song "[[Dick in a Box]]" on NBC's site and YouTube channel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/54026/ptc_puts_nbc_on_naughty_list|title=PTC Puts NBC on Naughty List|last=Hall|first=Sarah|date=December 22, 2006|publisher=E! Online|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062630/https://www.eonline.com/news/54026/ptc_puts_nbc_on_naughty_list|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Lipschultz|2008|p=178}}</ref> In 2008, the PTC released a report ''The "New" Tube: A Content Analysis of YouTube—the Most Popular Online Video Destination'', which praised YouTube for filtering adult content but criticized the site for not filtering profanity and other explicit content from comments sections or videos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/old/content/2008/12/ptc-goes-after-youtube-user-comments.ars|title=Decency group goes after YouTube users' comments|last=Lasar|first=Matthew|date=December 21, 2008|work=Ars Technica|access-date=August 5, 2009|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062457/https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2008/12/ptc-goes-after-youtube-user-comments/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Ethics controversy===
In October 2010, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that former PTC vice president of development Patrick W. Salazar had accused PTC of mishandling hundreds of thousands of mailings to donors and members. Based on [[Internal Revenue Service]] filings, the [[American Institute of Philanthropy]] rated PTC "C+" on financial efficiency. Salazar also disputed the PTC's official membership figure of 1.3 million and estimated that at most 12,000 people respond to annual fundraisers. Although Salazar stated that he left the PTC in November 2009, the PTC said that it fired Salazar and that Salazar was trying to extort money from the organization.<ref name="NYT2010"/>
===Other===
The PTC also criticized ''[[The Muppets (TV series)|The Muppets]]'' for not meeting "family viewing" guidelines and suggested a boycott, based on the mockumentary format of the series including mentions of plastic surgery, "inside" business language being used in a crude manner, and the Muppets in a bar consuming alcoholic beverages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w2.parentstv.org/Main/News/Detail.aspx?docID=3296|title=New PTC Research Finds ABC's The Muppets Exposes Kids to Adult-Themed Content Every 3 Minutes|last=Oliver|first=Kelley|work=Parents Television Council|date=October 20, 2015|access-date=October 25, 2015|archive-date=November 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117020558/http://w2.parentstv.org/Main/News/Detail.aspx?docID=3296|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The PTC also criticized [[WE tv]]'s ''[[Sex Box (U.S. TV series)|Sex Box]]'', deeming it "an affront to families, toxic to advertisers, and a clear demonstration of a badly-broken business model that forces every cable/satellite subscriber to pay for unwanted and unwatched cable networks."<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/parents-group-slams-sex-box-basic-cable-show/ | title=Parents group slams 'Sex Box' basic cable show | first=Diana | last=Falzone | publisher=[[Fox News]] | date=January 29, 2015 }}</ref>
==Viewpoints==
{{Conservatism US}}
On its website, PTC states that its mission is to "promote and restore responsibility and decency to the entertainment industry in answer to America's demand for positive, family-oriented television programming."<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the PTC's mission?|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/faqs/main.asp#What%20is%20the%20PTCs%20mission|work=FAQ|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=June 12, 2007|archive-date=July 3, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703152145/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/faqs/main.asp#What%20is%20the%20PTCs%20mission|url-status=live}}</ref> The PTC believes that the entertainment industry—not only television but also music, movies, and video games as well—and its sponsors share responsibility with parents for children's television viewing habits. It therefore believes that television is harming children through a perceived "gratuitous" amount of sex, violence, and profanity.<ref name="about us"/> Its activism has influenced the removal of potentially objectionable content from certain shows, such as the fourth season of the popular CBS crime drama ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Battaglio |first=Stephen |title="CSI" Goes for Less Seamy Side |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2003/09/25/2003-09-25__csi__goes_for_less_seamy_si.html |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date=September 25, 2003 |access-date=March 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220222326/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2003/09/25/2003-09-25__csi__goes_for_less_seamy_si.html |archive-date=February 20, 2009 }}</ref> Increased government regulation of broadcasting is another viewpoint supported by PTC.<ref name="Television Watch">{{cite press release
|title = TV Watch Statement on Government's Role in Controlling What's on TV
|publisher = Television Watch
|date = June 15, 2006
|url = http://www.televisionwatch.org/NewsPolls/PressReleases/PR004.html
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927015425/http://www.televisionwatch.org/NewsPolls/PressReleases/PR004.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = September 27, 2007
|access-date = June 19, 2007
}}</ref> PTC considers itself [[Nonpartisanism|nonpartisan]];<ref name="about us">{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/aboutus/main.asp|publisher=Parents Television Council|access-date=December 31, 2007|archive-date=January 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117052116/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/aboutus/main.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nelson|first=Colleen McCain|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002451506_parents25.html|title=Networks prepare to take on parents in showdown over TV programming|work=The Seattle Times|date=August 20, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622083512/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002451506_parents25.html|archive-date=June 22, 2011}} Originally published by ''The Dallas Morning News'' as "Networks rebelling against Mom, Dad."</ref> others have considered the PTC to be [[bipartisan]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Campbell|first=Julia|url=https://abcnews.go.com/print?id=123179|title=Lieberman in Hollywood: Will He Be Welcome?|publisher=ABC News|date=August 10, 2000|access-date=August 27, 2007|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062641/https://abcnews.go.com/print?id=123179|url-status=live}}</ref> or [[social conservatism|socially conservative]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Lynn|title=For 'indecency' watchdogs, work is a day full of TV|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-10-et-watchdog10-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 10, 2004|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062550/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-10-et-watchdog10-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Robyn Blumner]] of the ''St. Petersburg Times'' called the PTC "the [[Gladys Kravitz]] of public advocacy" in a column of hers and believed the PTC supported a federal policy on broadcast decency she called "Big Nanny run amok".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2007/06/10/the-nanny-inside-your-tv/|title=The nanny inside your TV|last=Blumner|first=Robyn|author-link=Robyn Blumner|date=June 10, 2007|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>
===TV Parental Guidelines===
Since the introduction of the [[TV Parental Guidelines]] ratings system, the PTC has frequently accused the guidelines of having inaccuracy and low standards. In 1997, PTC was twice as likely to rate a show with the toughest rating classification, "red light" in the PTC's case, and "TV-14" in the Guidelines.<ref>{{harvnb|Price|1998|p=143}}</ref> Bill Berkowitz quoted PTC president Bozell as stating, based on PTC research, that "the current ratings system and [[V-chip]] are failures."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=62|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427133850/http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=62|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 27, 2006|title=The Parents Television Council|last=Berkowitz|first=Bill|date=May 11, 2005|publisher=Media Transparency|access-date=March 15, 2009}}</ref> In response to a V-Chip advertising campaign in the summer of 2006, Bozell proposed instead that cable companies either apply FCC-style broadcast television standards or offer choice in ordering channels.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/parents-group-derides-v-chip-ads/|title=Parents group derides V-Chip ads|last=Ogg|first=Erica|date=July 27, 2006|work=CNET News|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062501/https://www.cnet.com/news/parents-group-derides-v-chip-ads/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Television Watch]] considers PTC's reporting on the V-chip inaccurate and ideologically charged.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.televisionwatch.org/newspolls/pressreleases/pr016.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927015418/http://www.televisionwatch.org/newspolls/pressreleases/pr016.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 27, 2007|title=Parents Want Control of TV|publisher=TV Watch|date=March 15, 2007|access-date=April 22, 2007}}</ref>
===Cable choice===
{{Further|Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007}}
The PTC is an avid supporter of "[[A la carte pay television|a la carte]]" [[cable television in the United States|cable television]] services to allow families to choose only the cable television channels that are appropriate for their children, and also impose the same decency standards already in place on broadcast television on cable channels.<ref>{{cite web | last = Winter | first = Tim | title = Cable Choice is the Right Choice | work = ParentsTV.org | publisher = Parents Television Council | url = http://parentstv.org/PTC/cable/documents/TWCableChoice.asp | access-date = June 28, 2007 | archive-date = May 2, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070502021857/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/cable/documents/TWCableChoice.asp | url-status = dead }}</ref> Frequently, the council has criticized programs on [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]], [[Comedy Central]], [[E!]], [[FX (TV network)|FX]], [[MTV]],<ref>{{cite web| last = Eggerton| first = John| title = PTC Doesn't Want Its MTV| work = [[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=February 1, 2005 | url = https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-doesnt-want-its-mtv-76912| access-date = April 18, 2022 }}</ref> [[Spike (TV network)|Spike]], [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]], and [[VH1]] because they claim some of the content aired on those channels is inappropriate for younger viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://parentstv.org/PTC/cable/archives.asp|title=Cable Consumer Choice Campaign|publisher=PTC|access-date=February 22, 2009|archive-date=January 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106154140/http://www.parentstv.org./PTC/cable/archives.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> On the other side of the issue, the PTC has awarded its "Seal of Approval" to cable networks [[Disney Channel]]<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/news/release/2007/0308.asp|title=PTC Awards Disney for Family-Friendly Advertising Practices|publisher=Parents Television Council|date=March 8, 2007|access-date=April 12, 2007|archive-date=September 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907225229/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/news/release/2007/0308.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Hallmark Channel]]<ref>{{cite web| title = Review - Naomi's New Morning| work = ParentsTV.org| publisher = Parents Television Council| date = May 4, 2007| url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reviews/naomisnewmorning.asp| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070203194342/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reviews/naomisnewmorning.asp| url-status = dead| archive-date = February 3, 2007| access-date = August 24, 2009}}</ref> for their original programs several years ago.
On June 14, 2007, United States Representatives [[Dan Lipinski]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]], [[Illinois]]) and [[Jeff Fortenberry]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], [[Nebraska]]) introduced into legislation the Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007, which intends to allow families to choose and pay for only the cable television channels that they want to watch. In September 2007, the PTC launched a new website, ''HowCableShouldBe.com'', to allow cable customers to see how much they are paying for their monthly cable bill currently.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/news/release/2007/0925.asp|title=PTC Shows Consumers How Cable Should Be|publisher=Parents Television Council|date=September 25, 2007|access-date=October 12, 2007|archive-date=June 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626193956/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2007/0925.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In August 2013, the PTC released a statement criticizing MTV for the airing of a performance by [[Miley Cyrus]] during its [[Video Music Awards]] and urged Congress to pass the Television Consumer Freedom Act.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Strecker|first=Erin|title=Parents Television Council isn't happy with Miley Cyrus' VMAs performance|url=https://ew.com/article/2013/08/26/parents-television-council-miley-cyrus-vmas/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230062611/https://ew.com/article/2013/08/26/parents-television-council-miley-cyrus-vmas/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Popular music==
In April 2008, PTC released ''The Rap on Rap'', a study covering hip-hop and R&B music videos rotated on programs ''[[106 & Park]]'' and ''[[Rap City (TV series)|Rap City]]'', both shown on [[BET]], and ''[[Sucker Free]]'' on [[MTV]]. PTC urged advertisers to withdraw sponsorship of those programs, whose videos PTC stated targeted children and teenagers "with adult content ... once every 38 seconds".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Moss|first1=Linda|last2=Umstead|first2=R. Thomas|title=PTC Puts a Bad 'Rap' On BET, MTV|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-puts-bad-rap-bet-mtv-268081|work=Multichannel |date=April 10, 2008|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Crupi |first=Anthony |title=PTC Blasts MTV, BET |url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/media_agencies/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003788641 |work=Mediaweek |date=April 10, 2008 |access-date=January 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422053803/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/media_agencies/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003788641 |archive-date=April 22, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> PTC also warned radio stations about playing the [[Britney Spears]] song "[[If U Seek Amy]]" over concerns it contained an audible use of an obscenity.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ptc-cautions-media-about-britney-spears-song-55548 |title=PTC Cautions Media About Britney Spears Song |last=Eggerton |first=John |date=January 21, 2009 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> In response to the music video to [[Miley Cyrus]]' song "[[Who Owns My Heart]]", the PTC stated that it felt it was "unfortunate that she would participate in such a sexualized video like this one"; ironically, Miley Cyrus' father [[Billy Ray Cyrus]] sat on the PTC Advisory Board at the time.<ref name="NYT2010"/>
In May 2011, the PTC took issue with [[Rihanna]]'s music video for her song "[[Man Down (song)|Man Down]]." In the video Rihanna portrays a woman who resorts to killing the man who had previously raped her. They claimed the video promoted gun crime and murder, while the pop star said she wanted to be a voice to victims. After the video became the most viewed [[YouTube]] video that week, she sarcastically used Twitter to thank the PTC for [[Streisand effect|helping her make the video such a success.]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/rihanna-221-1281048|title=Rihanna thanks US pressure groups for making 'Man Down' a success|magazine=NME|date=June 11, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>
==Criticism==
The PTMC has been frequently criticized for hypocrisy, slanted reporting and only criticizing shows that are aimed at adults. Critics of the PTMC have alleged that it supports increased governmental censorship of television by lobbying the FCC for indecency enforcement for certain television shows<ref name="Television Watch"/> and inaccurately reporting on the [[V-Chip]] in order to further their agenda.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927015418/http://www.televisionwatch.org/newspolls/pressreleases/pr016.html Parents Want Control of TV]. TV Watch. March 15, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2007.</ref>
''[[Family Guy]]'' creator [[Seth MacFarlane]], who the PTMC frequently criticizes, said in ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]''<ref name="BGFM">{{cite journal |last1=Voss |first1=Brandon |year=2008|title=Big Gay Following: Seth MacFarlane |journal= The Advocate}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Oh, yeah. That's like getting hate mail from [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]. They're literally terrible human beings. I've read their newsletter, I've visited their website, and they're just rotten to the core. For an organization that prides itself on Christian values—I mean, I'm an atheist, so what do I know?—they spend their entire day hating people. They can all suck my dick as far as I'm concerned.}}
[[Kurt Sutter]], creator of ''[[Sons of Anarchy]]'' responded to Bozell's article that attacked the season 6 premiere of his show due to it including a school shooting scene, calling the PTC "a hate club" and Bozell an "idiot" as well as "a pathetic fucking douchebag and I bet your own kids fucking hate you.”<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Kurt Sutter's content: Dear Mr. Bozell, Yes, I oft…" on WhoSay |url=http://www.whosay.com/status/kurtsutter/735490?wsref=tw&code=UyF6NMb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129160030/http://www.whosay.com/status/kurtsutter/735490?wsref=tw&code=UyF6NMb |archive-date=2015-01-29 |access-date= |website=www.whosay.com}}</ref>
In January 2005, [[Bahçeşehir University]] associate professor Christian Christiansen questioned the backgrounds of certain PTC Advisory Board members, contending they are not consistent with their stance on morality.<ref name="Christensen" /> Christiansen's observations were as follows: [[L. Brent Bozell III]] as 'National Finance Chairman for the 1992 "Buchanan for President" campaign' of "neo-fascist [[Pat Buchanan]]"; [[Susan Howard]]'s portrayal of adulterous [[Donna Culver Krebbs]] on TV series ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'', which series "was soaked in scantily-clad women, emotional cruelty, violence, alcoholism, and marital infidelity"; Coleman Luck as 'writer and producer' ... 'on ''[[Otherworld (TV series)|Otherworld]]'', ''[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series)|The Equalizer]]'', ''[[Gabriel's Fire]]'', ''[[Matrix (TV series)|Matrix]]'', and ''[[The Burning Zone]]'' [which] ... included a fair amount of death and violence'; [[William Bennett]] as "a popular guest at a number of Las Vegas casinos"; [[Bruce Jarchow]] appearing in "less family-friendly products... such as ''[[The Puppet Masters (film)|The Puppet Masters]]'', ''[[Mad Dog and Glory]]'' and ''[[Married ... with Children|Married... with Children]]''; [[Billy Ray Cyrus]], who starred in ''[[Mulholland Drive (film)|Mulholland Drive]]'' made by filmmaker [[David Lynch]]; and John Carvelli, 'who, in 1987, "took part in a fact-finding mission in [[Nicaragua]] and [[Honduras]] with the National Conservative Foundation during the [[Nicaraguan Revolution|Nicaraguan civil war]]."'<ref name="Christensen" />
In a December 2005 column of his, ''[[Advertising Age]]'' columnist Simon Dumenco claimed that the PTC is "very very afraid of gay TV characters".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dumenco |first1=Simon |title=Honey, I Shrank the Cable-TV Universe |url=https://adage.com/article/the-media-guy/honey-i-shrank-cable-tv-universe/47749 |url-access=subscription |work=Ad Age |date=December 12, 2005 }}</ref> ''Culture Watch'' columnist Christopher Gildemeister defended the PTC as being "not homophobic" but simply opposed to "sexual references or innuendo (of any variety, hetero, homo or other) aired where children might be exposed to them."<ref name="culture watch 12 26"/>
==See also==
{{portal|Conservatism}}
* [[Anti-pornography movement]]
*[[Criticism of Family Guy|Criticism of ''Family Guy'']]
*[[Parents Music Resource Center]]
*"[[Think of the children]]"
==References==
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*{{Cite book|last=Green|first=Philip|title=Primetime Politics: The Truth about Conservative Lies, Corporate Control, and Television Culture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xCXmGoQxNooC|place=[[Lanham, Maryland|Lanham, Md.]]|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2005|isbn=0-7425-2107-9}}
*{{Cite book|last=Lane|first=Frederick S.|title=The Decency Wars: The Campaign to Cleanse American Culture|year=2006|place=[[Amherst, New York]], [[United States|U.S.]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Books]]|isbn=1-59102-427-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/decencywarscampa0000lane}}
*{{Cite book|last=Lipschultz|first=Jeremy Harris|title=Broadcast and Internet Indecency|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0dN9gRwZwlcC|year=2008|place=[[New York, New York]], U.S.|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-0-8058-5910-2}}
*{{Cite book|last=Price|first=Monroe Edwin|title=The V-chip Debate|url=https://archive.org/details/vchipdebate00monr|url-access=registration|place=[[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Penn.]], U.S.|publisher=Lawrence Erlbaum Associates|year=1998|isbn=0-8058-3062-6}}
===Citations===
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[[Category:Censorship of broadcasting in the United States]]
[[Category:Censorship in Christianity]]
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[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Alexandria, Virginia]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in California]]
[[Category:Television organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Catholic organizations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Christianity and politics]]
[[Category:Political organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Television content ratings systems]]
[[Category:Catholic Church in the United States]]
[[Category:Censorship in the United States]]
[[Category:First Amendment to the United States Constitution]]
[[Category:Christianity and society in the United States]]
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