New PTC Data Shows TV-PG Rated TV Programs Decreased from 2011 to 2014

Written by PTC | Published December 9, 2015

With the Success of The Wiz, PTC Urges Broadcasters to Program For Families Throughout the Year

On the heels of the highly-watched, family-friendly special broadcast of NBC’s The Wiz Live!, the Parents Television Council (PTC) is renewing its call on broadcasters to program for families throughout the year and not only during the holidays. According to new PTC data, there were 11.5 fewer hours of TV-PG primetime broadcast programming during a two-week study period in 2014 than in 2011, representing an almost 20 percent decrease.* “NBC followed the yellow brick road towards ratings success with The Wiz Live! this December, and we offer our congratulations to all involved in making it a program that families could watch together. NBC also scored big with Peter Pan and The Sound of Music Live! the last few years. CBS has aired re-runs of I Love Lucy to ratings success. What those examples have in common is that they are safe and enjoyable for families to watch together,” said PTC President Tim Winter. “Unfortunately, the broadcast networks don’t program enough for families the rest of the year. Our data shows a near 20 percent decrease in the number of TV-PG rated shows that have been shown on primetime broadcast TV within a three-year period. Networks used to air TV-G rated TV series throughout the year, but with the exception of holiday specials like The Wiz, there are no TV-G rated primetime broadcast TV series left. “Programming for families shouldn’t just be a once a year endeavor. After all, it’s a winning solution for the networks, the advertisers, and the audience. We urge the broadcast networks to change course and consider the important family audience in 2016 and beyond.” *The PTC examined all primetime entertainment programming on the four major broadcast networks (ABC, NBC,
CBS, and Fox) during the first 2-weeks of the November 2011 and 2014 sweeps periods. Broadcasts of news, sports programs, and reruns were excluded.