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V-Chip
US V-Chip Ratings U.S. PARENTAL RATING SYSTEMS
Programs with the following ratings are appropriate for children.
❒ TV Y is Appropriate for All Children.
Programs are created for very young viewers and should be suitable for all ages, including
children ages 2 - 6.
❒ TV Y7 is for Older Children.
Most parents would find such programs suitable for children 7 and above. These programs
may contain some mild fantasy violence or comedic violence, which children should be able
to discern from reality.
Programs with the following ratings are designed for the entire audience.
❒ TV G stands for General Audience.
Most parents would find these programs suitable for all age groups. They contain little or no
violence, no strong language, and little or no sexual dialog or situations.
❒ TV PG Parental Guidance Suggested.
May contain some, but not much, strong language, limited violence, and some suggestive
sexual dialog or situations. It is recommended that parents watch these programs first, or
with their children.
❒ TV 14 Parents Strongly Cautioned.
Programs contain some material that may be unsuitable for children under the age of 14,
including possible intense violence, sexual situations, strong coarse language, or intensely
suggestive dialog. Parents are cautioned against unattended viewing by children under 14.
❒ TV MA Mature Audiences Only.
These programs are specifically for adults and may be unsuitable for anyone under 17
years of age. TV MAprograms may have extensive V, S, L, or D.
Viewing Guidelines
In addition to the ratings categories explained above, information on specific kinds of con-
tent are also supplied with the V-Chip rating. These types of content may also be blocked.
The content types are:
• V/FV is for VIOLENCE/FANTASYVIO-
LENCE
• Sstands for SEXUAL CONTENT
• Lstands for strong LANGUAGE
• Dstands for suggestive DIALOG