MTV's Defense of its Offensive Language is
Offensive
MTV's Real World: Austin Cast
As reported by Broadcasting & Cable (August 12, 2005), MTV
responded to the PTC's new study of MTV original programming that revealed
expletive-laden programming—both partially-bleeped and non-bleeped
obscenities—occurring approximately once every three minutes with no language
warnings to parents.
Here is MTV's formal response: "We don't air vulgar language."
"According to MTV, none of the language used on the network is
vulgar, and therefore it doesn't warrant content descriptors. One must wonder
whether MTV executives actually watch what they're broadcasting," said L. Brent
Bozell, president of the PTC.
"Obscenities included hundreds of uses of partially-bleeped
F-words and just about everything else under the sun. If MTV isn't vulgar, then
Colorado doesn't have mountains, and the pope isn't Catholic," Bozell said.
"Parents beware—the MTV network says that it wants you to rely on
the V-chip and ratings system to help you make viewing decisions, but yet laughs
in your face at the evidence that it's airing obscenities without warning to you
and your children," concluded Bozell.
The PTC is contacting members of Congress and the FCC with its
latest report on MTV, along with MTV's ridiculous response.
►
more
More Evidence Proving Cable Industry Campaign to Promote Responsibility is a
Sham
The PTC released the results of a six month study of MTV original
programming which shows that the cable industry's $250 million dollar campaign
to promote reliance on the V-chip and ratings system is a complete sham.
The PTC's review of 136 MTV shows, representing more than 70
hours of original programming, revealed expletive-laden programming--both
partially-bleeped and non-bleeped profanity--that occurred approximately once
every three minutes with no language warnings to parents. If parents wanted to
supervise, they would not be helped by the V-chip because the MTV programming
monitored in the study did not contain the content indicator for L – language.
The V-chip is completely dependent upon the ratings system's content descriptors
to work accurately.
►
more
MTV just kicked-off the 16th season of its long-running reality series,
The Real World. This time the action takes place in Austin, TX. From
hot tub threesomes, to night-cam sex romps, this youth-targeted series
celebrates drunkenness and debauchery. This season's cast includes, according to
the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a self-proclaimed "nymph" who in the first
episode alone can be seen streaking through the house nude and kissing another
woman to the delight of her male housemates. Teasers hint at housemate hook-ups,
and one 23-year-old cast member losing her virginity.
Parents need to be worried about MTV not only because of its popularity, but
also because of its tremendous influence in the lives of America's teens and
pre-teens. MTV is the most recognized network among young adults ages 12 to 34,
according to Nielsen Media Research. It is watched by 73% of boys and 78% of
girls ages 12 to 19.
Research also shows that watching MTV changes the attitudes and perceptions of
young viewers. At least two experiments show that watching MTV results in more
permissive attitudes about sex. One experiment showed that college students who
were assigned to watch MTV developed more liberal attitudes toward premarital
sex than their peers who did not watch MTV as part of the study. The second
found that seventh and ninth graders were more likely to approve of premarital
sex after watching MTV for one hour.
The Obscene "Reality" at MTV
By Brent Bozell
It's daytime in the summer,
and what are your children watching? The odds are that it's MTV, cable's
raunchiest magnet for the out-of-school crowd. Nielsen experts say MTV
is watched by 73 percent of boys and 78 percent of girls aged 12 to 19,
and if they've got it on during the day, the younger ones in the house
are probably checking it out, too.►
more
