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==History==
The history of the TV is a crucial part to the creation of the V-chip. Televisions were initially created for educational purposes, and it was a technological break through that not many people had in their houses. In the 60’s, however, television became very common, and with the [[Vietnam War]] in full effect, it was brought straight to the living room of millions of Americans. Violence and killing in the war was the start to desensitization of Americans. The days of “Father Knows Best” and similar cheeky family sitcoms were over. Good no longer always prevailed over evil on television, and content drifted from being suitable for all ages to being a little more mature in some cases for young viewers.

Many other ideas were introduced, one being the introduction of the [[Family Viewing Hour]] in 1975. During this hour, broadcasters had to play TV content suitable for all ages. This idea, however, was quickly done away with because broadcasters felt it violated their [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution | First Amendment]] rights by restricting what content they could play. Here lies the basis for such a device as the V-chip and a television rating system. The inventor of the chip originally meant for it to be a simple tool that parents could use if they felt strongly about monitoring their children’s television viewing. He had no idea it would become a national standard for all televisions to contain.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://library.thinkquest.org/5676/home.html | title = Projects by Students for Students | accessdate = 2010-05-27}}</ref>


==Creation and Implementation==
==Creation and Implementation==

Revision as of 18:23, 27 May 2010

V-chip is a generic term used for television receivers allowing the blocking of programs based on their ratings category. It is intended for use by parents to manage their children's television viewing. Most 13-inch and larger televisions manufactured for the United States market since 1999 and all units as of January 2000 are required to have the V-chip technology. Many devices similar to the V-chip have been produced.

The V-chip works much like closed captioning as it uses the vertical blanking interval in the television signal to send and receive a special code in the programming which indicates the show's score according to a simple numerical rating system for violence, sex, and language.[1] The programs' signals are encoded according to their rating, on line 21 of the broadcast signal's vertical blanking interval using the XDS protocol, and this is detected by the television set's V-chip. If the program's rating is outside the level configured as acceptable on that particular television, the program is blocked. The V-chip does not block news or sports casts, as this sort of programming does not have ratings.

The V-chip has a four-digit numerical password in order to keep older children from changing its settings. However, it can be overridden by anyone who read the television's manual to find out how to reset the password to 0000 (built into the V-chip in case the parents themselves forget the password that they set).

The phrase "V-chip" was purportedly coined by Representative Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts. According to him, the "V" stands for "violence".[2] However, in an interview with Tim Collings, one of the people who claim to have invented the device, he says that it was intended to stand for "viewer control."[3]

History

The history of the TV is a crucial part to the creation of the V-chip. Televisions were initially created for educational purposes, and it was a technological break through that not many people had in their houses. In the 60’s, however, television became very common, and with the Vietnam War in full effect, it was brought straight to the living room of millions of Americans. Violence and killing in the war was the start to desensitization of Americans. The days of “Father Knows Best” and similar cheeky family sitcoms were over. Good no longer always prevailed over evil on television, and content drifted from being suitable for all ages to being a little more mature in some cases for young viewers.

Many other ideas were introduced, one being the introduction of the Family Viewing Hour in 1975. During this hour, broadcasters had to play TV content suitable for all ages. This idea, however, was quickly done away with because broadcasters felt it violated their First Amendment rights by restricting what content they could play. Here lies the basis for such a device as the V-chip and a television rating system. The inventor of the chip originally meant for it to be a simple tool that parents could use if they felt strongly about monitoring their children’s television viewing. He had no idea it would become a national standard for all televisions to contain.[4]

Creation and Implementation

In 1993, Keith Spicer, head of the Canadian Telecommunications Commission meets with top American executives and discloses information about the V-Chip Technology.[5] Tim Colling’s creation holds promise in the future of the television industry, and the more exposure achieved, the more nations are able to benefit. Discussions take place as to the increasing amounts of violence within TV and the importance of monitoring and blocking shows. This sparked interest, but no steps were taken for implementation. In 1994, the technology was presented at a Violence on TV conference in France, and later again at a conference in Belgium. This is where Al Gore first became familiarized with the concept of the V-Chip, a crucial exposure that would help to influence Bill Clinton’s decision in passing the Telecommunications Act of 1996.[6] Once the V-Chip gained the ability to block multiple shows at the same time, interest in the technology expanded significantly. In January of 1998, exclusive rights to the V-Chip were sold to Tri-Vision Electronics Inc. [7]

The Telecommunications Act

The V-chip was an added provision in U.S. President Bill Clinton's Telecommunications Act of 1996. "If every parent uses this chip wisely, it can become a powerful voice against teen violence, teen pregnancy, teen drug use, and for both learning and entertainment," Clinton said during his speech as he signed the Telecommunications Act on February 8, 1996. "We're handing the TV remote control back to America's parents so that they can pass on their values and protect their children."[1] The addition of the V-chip into the Telecommunications Act was helpful to attract American voters for the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign.

The portion of the overall act which affects the V-chip is that of Title V.[8] This section, entitled “Obscenity and Violence” addresses the influence parents may have over their children’s viewing capabilities on cable television. Section 551, Parental Choice in Television Programming, outlines the effects that violence has on the youth of a nation and addresses how parents should exercise the control to limit and/or block what information their children are in fact viewing and what is being broadcast into their private homes. Also addressed is the inclusion of the implementation of a rating code for violence within television programming. Parents should be informed of the content of a program prior to its airing so that appropriate precautions may be made to protect their children from said material. The V-Chip technology would be employed in such an event

Ratings

In 1996 the United States Congress issued that the television industry create a voluntary rating system for its shows, called the TV Parental Guidelines.[9] Three main associations including the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable Television Association, and the Motion Picture Association of America would establish this rating system.[9] Along with the three founding associations, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission select five members of the advocacy community to participate in establishing television ratings. All together the FCC chairman, six members from each broadcasting industry and the five non-industry members make up a total of 24 participants.[9] These ratings are the icons that appear in the corner of the television screen at the beginning of every show, and also after each commercial break for many broadcasters.[9] These ratings include TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-Y7-FV, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, and TV-MA.

Main article: TV Parental Guidelines

Invention and patent

Invention

Tim Collings states he developed the V-chip technology while he was an engineering professor at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in British Columbia; however, he did not obtain a patent on the technology. Two others separately patented devices similar or identical to the V-chip: John Olivo of Parental Guide of Omaha, and an Air Force captain by the name of Carl Elam. Collings, Olivo, and Elam all claim to have invented the technology.[2]

Patent

Although there is much debate over who patented the V-chip, Wi-LAN of Ottawa is the current holder.[10]

Criticisms of the V-chip

Usage

On April 25, 2007, the Federal Communications Commission released a report entitled In the Matter of Violent Television Programming And Its Impact On Children. The report discusses the low usage of V-chip technology. In its analysis, the report addresses the following studies:

According to a 2003 study, parents' low level of V-chip use is explained in part by their unawareness of the device and the "multi-step and often confusing process" necessary to use it. Only 27% of all parents in the study group could figure out how to program the V-chip, and many parents "who might otherwise have used the V-Chip were frustrated by an inability to get it to work properly."

The Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a telephone survey in 2004 of 1,001 parents of children ages 2–17. The results of that survey showed that:

  • 15% of all parents had used the V-chip
  • 26% of all parents had not bought a new television set since January 2000, when the V-chip was first required in all televisions
  • 39% of all parents had bought a new television set since January 2000, but did not think it even included a V-chip
  • 20% of all parents knew they had a V-chip, but had not used it.[11]

A March 2007 Zogby poll indicated, among other things, that 88% of respondents did not use a V-chip or cable box parental controls in the previous week, leading the Parents Television Council to call the television industry's V-chip education campaign a failure.[12]

First Amendment violation

Television networks have argued that the use of the V-chip in blocking and/or censoring television programming is a violation of the First Amendment. Specifically, that the networks should not be told what is considered to be too violent or to be too sexual, for it is their artistic vision. They have also argued that the audience does not have to watch shows that they deem are inappropriate.

The networks feared that a single profanity would block an entire program. They also feared that they would lose advertising revenue because advertisers would not pay for time slots during programs that might be blocked.[13]

Lack of supporting research

The American Civil Liberties Union argues that, "Research has not proven that watching violence on television causes watchers to commit violence" citing the Federal Trade Commission's Marketing Violent Entertainment to Children: A Review of the Self-Regulation and Industry Practices in the Motion Picture, Music Recording, &" Electronic Game Industries report in September 2001 as support. In ACLU's website, ACLU quoted the FTC in saying that, "[m]ost researchers and investigators agree that exposure to media violence alone does not cause a child to commit a violent act, and that it is not the sole, or even the most important, factor in contributing to youth aggression, anti-social attitudes, and violence."[14]

According to J.M. Balkin, author of Media Filters and the V-Chip, "[People] also want to filter out dangerous ideas and views they do not agree with or expressions that offend and anger them."[15] There is also cultural and familial differences; an action, activity, or behavior may be deemed as "appropriate" for one culture or for one family but may very well be considered "inappropriate" for another culture or for another family. Balkin says some people believe that the use of the V-chip is a way for the government to "intervene and impose binding moral standards" on others.

Expenses

While the V-chip is fairly inexpensive to add to individual television sets, a large amount of money has been spent educating people on the technology. $550 million was spent to educate parents on the V-chip, but they are no more aware of the technology or the ways in which it can be put to use now than they were before the funds were spent.[16]

Infringement on rights

The V-chip is criticized for being an infringement on basic human rights. Many people argue that it is not the government's right to monitor or censor what viewers watch on television. According to this argument, because the government regulates the rating system, it is also regulating much of parents' decision making processes on their children's viewing habits. Caroline Fredrickson, of the American Civil Liberties Union, stated, "These FCC recommendations are political pandering. The government should not replace parents as decision makers in America's living rooms. There are some things that the government does well. But deciding what is aired and when on television is not one of them."[17]

Insufficient number of users

Despite the amount that has been spent on educating parents on use of the V-chip, there is still a low proportion of users. Of parents who have access to the V-chip, just 15% actually use it. As reported in 2007, 39% of parents who had access to the V-chip were unaware of its existence, and 20% of parents who knew of the V-chip's existence opted not to try it.[18] Tim Winters, the Executive director for the Parents Television Council stated, "What I see is a solution that's flawed at every level. Conceptually, it's not bad, but practically, it's abhorrent."[18]

From 1999-2001, a research study was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania Annenberg Public Policy Center to observe the use of the V-chip in family households. The study was conducted on a total of 150 families with children between the ages of 7 and 10 who had V-chip television sets in their homes. Over the course of a year, the families’ use of the V-chip technology was observed to draw conclusions about the overall use of the V-chip in family environments.

Three experimental groups (High Information, Low Information, Control Group) were used to determine how crucial pre-emptive training and informational sessions on the V-chip were to their actual use. The first group was given a new TV, equipped with V-chip technology, and detailed information about the V-chip. The second group was also given a new TV equipped with V-chip technology but no special training on the V-chip. The control group was not given a new TV or special training, but was followed over the same time period to observe their V-chip use.


Overall, the study found:

  • Only 33 out of 110 families (30%) who received a new television set with V-chip technology programmed it during the course of the study
  • Of those 33 families, only nine families (8%) regularly used the technology
  • 24 out of 110 families (22%) tried the device at some point but didn’t use it through the year either through choice or because they didn’t understand how to use the V-chip
  • 77 families (70%) never used the V-chip technology at all during the year study


Many families either had no idea that their television possessed a V-chip or gave up after struggling to program it. Even families who were given extensive information on the V-chip still opted to not use the technology. Overall, this study suggests that there are definitely an insufficient number of households that implement the V-chip technology. [19]

Proponents of the V-chip

While a lot of controversies have been sparked by the V-chip, what sets it apart from other issues is that the V-chip imposes no government constraints on television programming itself; it is up to an individual family's discretion to choose which programs to block. When Congressman Ed Markey, chair of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee, introduced the first V-chip legislation, he told the press that parents "will be given the power to send a message directly to the industry. The government will not be involved."[20]

Parental responsibility

Further information: Television Watch

While the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Parents Television Council (PTC) research has shown low percentages in parental involvement in television viewing control, Television Watch, a Charleston, South Carolina-based organization advocating the use of parental controls like the V-chip, has consistently found otherwise in its research. They found in June 2007 that the majority of parents personally monitor their children's television viewing in some way, whether through use of the V-chip or other means. TV Watch has also found that most parents know that they have the option of the V-chip or other parental controls to monitor their children's television viewing, and believe it is primarily their responsibility, not that of the government, to protect children from inappropriate content on television.[21]

In response to the PTC survey on the V-chip that claimed the device's failure[22], TV Watch maintains that the survey was "flawed by faulty analysis and biased methodology"[23]. TV Watch also participated in a Kaiser Family Foundation forum in June 2007, based on recent Kaiser research, which claims that most parents do monitor their children's television viewing, whether or not by means of the V-chip.[24]

Expenses

As stated in an article in the Washington Times from March 1998, the V-chip was envisioned to be inexpensive. The cost to install the V-chip into televisions that are not already equipped with it is between five and ten dollars. In addition, every television set with parameters of 13 inches or larger sold after the year 2000 is required to have a V-chip pre-installed. Therefore, some say the cost is insignificant when purchasing a television.[25]

Ease of monitoring for parents

The TV ratings system is designed to aid parents in deciding what programming they deem appropriate for their children to watch. One such site that explains the ratings system is TheTVBoss.org, which was created by the United States Ad Council. The website explains the various options for controlling children's viewing patterns. It also contains instructions for activating the chip.[26]

Support from PTA groups

Many parents' groups are in favor of monitoring children's viewing habits, mostly for the purpose of building family values. "America's families will be now the ultimate judges of [the new ratings system's] effectiveness,"[2] said Lois Joan White, Parent-Teacher Association president, in 1997 in support of V-chip technology. The V-chip is also supported by other websites like FamilySafeMedia.com, [3] which presents technologies like the Weemote and TVGuardian as alternatives to the V-chip. [4]

The V-chip and commercials

The V-chip has provided parents and guardians the ability to monitor and block television shows that are unfavorable for children to watch in specific households by reading the information that is encoded in the rated program and blocking it based upon that rating it has been given.[27] However, due to the increasing variety of technology that is being developed and used in the household, parents are concerned that their children will be exposed to the same content they are trying to block through unrated commercials.[28] Due to the fact that commercials are not rated, the V-chip does not have the ability to censor lewd or inappropriate commercials.[29] This makes having a V-chip pointless because children can see the same content that they are blocked from on regular shows while watching commercials. This causes the V-Chip to be ineffective unless it applies to both television programs as well as commercials.

The ANA, the Association of National Advertisers, disagrees with creating a V-chip for commercials because it would block commercials and therefore be “economically ruinous for content providers, especially broadcasters.” [30] Blocking certain commercials from being viewed will be detrimental financially to broadcasters as well as ad companies.

The ANA also believes that rating thousands of commercials due to a select amount being inappropriate would be a waste of time. This would be seen as a clear example of “regulatory overkill”.[30] The ad industry also already has guidelines in which commercials with sensitive matter have to follow and abide by. It also self-regulates which programs certain types of ads can be placed in. As far as the ANA is concerned, these programs are very effective and do not need any modification or alteration.

Due to the fact that rating commercials globally would be a difficult task, a possible suggestion would be to limit inappropriate commercials and promotions shown at certain times that children watch television.[29] In order to partially protect children from seeing inappropriate commercials should include certain improvements to the V-Chip that can follow the same standard across all areas of media that include, “broadcast, cable, satellite, DVRs and, to the extent possible, the Internet.” [29]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Montgomery, Kathryn C. Generation Digital:politics, commerce, and childhood in the age of the internet. (2007) The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press.
  2. ^ a b Mifflin, Lawrie. "Question Lingers as FCC Prepares V-Chip Standards". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  3. ^ Lavers, Daphne (September 2001). "TV's Ultimate Irony: Sex and Violence sells only Sex and Violence". deltablue.ca. Delta Blue Communications. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  4. ^ "Projects by Students for Students". Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  5. ^ Price, Monroe Edwin (1998). The V-Chip Debate: Content Filtering From Television to the Internet. Lawrence Erlbaum.
  6. ^ "A Brief History of Colling's V-Chip Invention". Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  7. ^ "Tri-Vision Moves to Next Level in Roll-out of ItsV-Chip Product Line in North America". Business Wire. 1998-01-26. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  8. ^ "Telecommunications Act of 1996, Title V: Obscenity and Violence". Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  9. ^ a b c d "http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/vchip.html"
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ (2004) Parents, Media and Public Policy: A Kaiser Family Foundation Survey. Program for the Study of Media and Health, Publication No. 7156, September 23, pp. 7. Retrieved from: http://www.kff.org/entmedia/7156.cfm
  12. ^ "In the Matter of Violent Television Programming and Its Impact on Children," MB Docket No., 04-261, Federal Communications Commission (April 25, 2007), Page 14
  13. ^ Price, M. E. (1998). The V-Chip Debate Content Filtering From TV to the Internet. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
  14. ^ American Civil Liberties Union. (2004, September 15). ACLU Comments to the Federal Communications Commission re: MB Docket No. 04-261, the Matter of Violent Television Programming and Its Impact on Children. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/censorship/11463leg20040915.html
  15. ^ Balkin, J. M. (1998). Media Filters and the V-Chip. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from Yale University Website: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/jbalkin/articles/vchip01.htm
  16. ^ Huff, Richard (2007-03-30). "TV Watchdog is Barking up the Wrong Tree". [New York Daily News]. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  17. ^ Labaton, Stephen (2007-04-26). "F.C.C. Moves to Restrict TV Violence". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  18. ^ a b Ogg, Erica (2007-03-30). "Ad Council Unveils V-Chip Campaign". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  19. ^ Jordan, A., "Parents' Use of the V-Chip to Supervise Children's Television Use" (PDF), Annenberg Public Policy Center Reports, University of Pennsylvania, retrieved 2010-05-27 {{citation}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Montgomery, Kathryn C. Generation Digital: politics, commerce, and childhood in the age of the internet. (2007) The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press.
  21. ^ "TV Watch Survey of Parents Topline" (PDF). Television Watch, Hart Research. June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-15. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  22. ^ Kuhn, Katherine (2007-04-16). "The Ratings Sham II: TV Executives Still Hiding Behind a System That Doesn't Work" (PDF). Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-07-26. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  23. ^ "The Parents Television Council's Release is Flawed by Faulty Analysis and Biased Methodology" (Press release). Television Watch. 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  24. ^ "TV Watch Releases Results from Newest Poll" (Press release). Television Watch. 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  25. ^ Doug Abrahams (March 1998). "Regulators adopt plan for V-Chip, TV ratings". [Washington Times]. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  26. ^ "TheTVBoss.org". TheTVBoss.org. United States Ad Council. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  27. ^ "http://www.fcc.gov/vchip/"
  28. ^ "http://www.fcc.gov/parents/"
  29. ^ a b c "http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282883A1.pdf"
  30. ^ a b "http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/196401-Children_s_Media_Policy_Council_Wants_FCC_To_Require_Ratings_For_Ads.php?rssid=20103&q=V-chip+and+commercials"
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