Janelle Elizabeth

Satellite TV and Children

Satellite TV gives a huge choice in TV programs, but there a lots that you'd prefer you children to not have access to.

Satellite TV creates a whole new set of problems for parents who prefer their kids to not watch certain shows. Its difficult enough with cable and free to air stations, but satellite presents an even bigger set of issues.

So, as a parent, do you limit television watching to times when you are present? And does that mean you now have to sit through the loud and boisterous children's programming that sets your teeth on edge, just to make sure your kids don't see something inappropriate?

Not with satellite TV technology! In the last decade or so, an increasing number of people have noticed that television stations a offering programming that contains content unsuitable for children. And more people have been doing something about the programming offered by both broadcast and satellite TV.

The Children's Television Act of 1990 required providers to offer educational programming. Later requirements regarding television suitability included the ratings system that warns parents when unsuitable content may be one.

Despite laws and rules, however, the buck ultimately stops with you, the parent, when it comes to protecting your child. And a great way of protecting your household from unwanted or unsuitable satellite TV programming is through a V-chip which can block certain programming.

Any television made after the year 2000 and which is at least thirteen inches large has a V-chip. Parents can activate the V-chip in their television in order to filter out unwanted satellite TV programming.

Parents are able to select the types of programmes to be allowed without using a code on the remote. In this way, content which is restricted by the V-chip is controlled by a password, much the same way email or other computer access is.

The V Chip is designed to work in synch with parental guidelines that rate all programmes. Programs are rated in the following manner:

TV-Y: All Children

TV-Y7: Children seven and up

TV-G General audience, similar to a G movie

TV-PG Similar to a PG movie

TV-14 Older teens, similar to PG-13 movie

TV-MA Similar to rated R movie

By coupling the rating system with the V-chip technology, parents can choose to lock all content that is rated TV-PG and above with a password. That way, if a small child were left watching a program for a few moments, even if they got hold of the remote, they could not turn it to unsuitable content while mom or dad is out of the room!

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