Troubleshooting guide
TV & Movie Ratings Guide
All Children
This program is designed to be appropriate for all children. Whether animated or live-action, the
themes and elements in this program are specifically designed for a very young audience,
including children from ages 2 - 6. This program is not expected to frighten younger children.
Directed to Older Children
This program is designed for children age 7 and above. It may be more appropriate for children
who have acquired the developmental skills needed to distinguish between make-believe and
reality. Themes and elements in this program may include mild fantasy violence or comedic
violence, or may frighten children under the age of 7. Therefore, parents may wish to consider
the suitability of this program for their very young children.
Directed to Older Children - Fantasy Violence
For those programs where fantasy violence may be more intense or more combative than other
programs in this category, such programs will be designated TV-Y7-FV.
General Audience
Most parents would find this program suitable for all ages. Although this rating does not signify
a program designed specifically for children, most parents may let younger children watch this
program unattended. It contains little or no violence, no strong language and little or no sexual
dialogue or situations.
Parental Guidance Suggested
This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children. Many
parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may call for parental
guidaince and/or the program may contain one or more of the following: some suggestive
dialogue (D), infrequent coarse language (L), intense sexual situations (S), or intense violence (V).
Parents Strongly Cautioned
This program contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under
14 years of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care in monitoring this program and
are cautioned against letting children under the age of 14 watch unattended. This program may
contain one or more of the following: intensely suggestive dialogue (D), strong coarse
language (L), intense sexual situations (S), or intense violence (V).
Mature Audience Only
This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for
children under 17. This program may contain one or more of the following: crude indecent
language (L), explicit sexual activity (S), or graphic violence (V).
TV
Y
TV
Y7
TV
G
TV
Y7
FV
TV
PG
TV
14
TV
MA
This information was obtained from the TV Parental Guidelines website at www.tvguidelines.org
& the Motion Picture Association of America’s website at www.mpaa.org
Motion Picture Association of America Ratings
General Audience
A G-rated motion picture contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence, or other
matters that, in the view of the Rating Board, would offend parents whose younger children
view the motion picture. The G rating is not a “certificate of approval,” nor does it signify a
“children’s” motion picture. Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation,
but they are common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in G-rated motion
pictures. Depictions of violence are minimal. No nudity, sex scenes, or drug use are present
in the motion picture.
Parental Guidance Suggested
A PG-rated motion picture should be investigated by parents before they let their younger
children attend. The PG rating indicates, in the view of the Rating Board, that parents may
consider some material unsuitable for their children, and parents should make that decision.
The more mature themes in some PG-rated motion pictures may call for parental guidance.
There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity. But these
elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the
suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use content in a PG-rated motion picture.
Parents Strongly Cautioned
A PG-13 rating is a sterner warning by the Rating Board to parents to determine whether the
children under age 13 should view the motion picture, as some material might not be suited for
them. A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity,
sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R
category.
Restricted
An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. An
R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or
persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are
counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend
R-rated motion pictures accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly
urged to find out more about R-rated motion pictures in determining their suitability for their
children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to
R-rated motion pictures.
No One 17 and Under Admitted
An NC-17 rated motion picture is one that, in the view of the Rating Board, most parents
would consider patently too adult for their children 17 and under. No children will be admitted.
NC-17 does not mean “obscene” or “pornographic” in the common or legal meaning of those
words, and should not be construed as a negative judgment in any sense. The rating simply
signals that the content is appropriate only for an adult audience. An NC-17 rating can be
based on violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse or any other element that most
parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children.
TV Parental Guidelines Ratings
17
18