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New PTC Study Shows Huge Increase in TV Profanity
 In its latest ground-breaking study, the
Parents Television Council found a huge
increase in profanity – especially use of
the “f-word” – on prime-time broadcast TV
over five years ago.
The PTC compared the amount and intensity of
profanity in the first two weeks of the fall
prime-time broadcast season in 2005 with
those this year. The results showed that
across all networks and time periods, there
was almost 70% more profanity in prime time
today than there was five years ago!
Here are a few
of the PTC’s other findings:
• Across all networks, use of the bleeped or
muted f-word increased from 11 instances
in 2005 to 276 instances in 2010 – an
increase of 2,409 %!
• Across all networks, use of the bleeped
f-word in the 8 o’clock Family Hour
increased from 10 instances in 2005 to 111
instances in 2010 – an increase of over 1,000%. And in the 9 o’clock hour, use of
the bleeped f-word increased from 1 instance
in 2005 to 156 instances in 2010 – that’s an
increase of 15,500%!
• Across all networks, use of the bleeped or
muted s-word increased from 11 instances in
2005 to 95 instances in 2010 – an increase
of 763%.
• There were also increases in the use of
anatomical and sexual references. Across all
networks and all hours of prime-time, use of
the word “balls” to refer to male genitalia
increased 200%. Similarly, use of the word
“screw” increased 121%, and use of the word
“boobs” in reference to breasts increased
90%.
To read the PTC’s full study,
click here.
These huge
increases in harsh profanity should come as
no surprise, given the Second Circuit
Court’s ruling last July – a ruling which
overturned the FCC’s authority to sanction
broadcasters who air profanity on the
airwaves the American people own!
Surveys have
found that children are using more foul
language, and at younger ages, than ever
before. And every parent who has heard their
children begging for specific toys or food
knows that TV has a huge influence on
children’s behavior. With such a
tsunami-like wave of foul language, a
family’s only recourse is to avoid using the
airwaves that THEY own!
The TV networks
must not be allowed to get away with shoving
more and more filthy language at our
children at every time of the day. With this
report, the PTC is calling out the
entertainment industry that airs such
profanity, the advertisers who sponsor such
profanity, and our public servants in
Washington who are supposed to serve the
public interest – BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The power
brokers in Hollywood may have the
high-priced lawyers, but the PTC has the
hearts and minds of the American people…and
we have you. But we can’t continue our fight
unless we also have the financial support of
our most trusted and loyal supporters.
Please, won’t
you help? Because our children are watching |
