PTC Asks American Airlines to Address Parental Concerns Over Adult In-flight Entertainment

FORT WORTH, Texas (May 21, 2008) – At today’s American Airlines shareholders meeting, the Parents Television Council™ called on the company to ensure that flights are filled with family-friendly television entertainment, not inappropriate, adult content that children have easy access to watch. The following are excerpts from the statement that PTC Director of Corporate Relations Glen Erickson delivered at the meeting:

“I am here today because we are on the verge of another summer vacation season and our 1.2 million members are concerned for families and particularly children traveling alone.

“Flying should be safe public transportation but sadly more often than not, children are unnecessarily exposed to mature and adult programming when flying on American Airlines.

“We regularly receive letters, e-mails and phone calls asking and begging the PTC to please work with the airlines to clean-up their in-flight entertainment. Depending on the aircraft, access to adult programming is available to all travelers regardless of age.

“The 777 has personal entertainment monitors permitting children to watch whatever they wish. On other American Airlines aircraft, the entertainment is offered on a common monitor so even the most vigilant parent is powerless to stop the screening of inappropriate programming.

“As you must know, Mr. Chairman, it is not a theatre or a television we can turn off or walk out on. We must make the skies family-friendly again!

“This is an industry wide issue and change needs to start now. Will American Airlines demonstrate industry wide leadership and reflect their family friendly corporate values?

“Over the weeks to come we will be talking to other major carriers including United Airlines to make a difference and remind everyone that children are watching your in-flight entertainment.

“I urge you again Mr. Chairman to be a leader, and clean-up our in-flight entertainment.”

To speak with a representative from the Parents Television Council, please contact Kelly Oliver (ext. 140) or Megan Franko (ext. 148) at (703) 683-5004.

The Parents Television Council™ (www.parentstv.org®) is a non-partisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment. It was founded in 1995 to ensure that children are not constantly assaulted by sex, violence and profanity on television and in other media. This national grassroots organization has more than 1.3 million members across the United States, and works with television producers, broadcasters, networks and sponsors in an effort to stem the flow of harmful and negative messages targeted to children. The PTC also works with elected and appointed government officials to enforce broadcast decency standards. Most importantly, the PTC produces critical research and publications documenting the dramatic increase in sex, violence and profanity in entertainment. This information is provided free of charge so parents can make informed viewing choices for their own families.