This third annual report presents comparative year-to-year data on the nature of violence on television across programme genres and channel types in the United States. It contains an analysis of how the new television rating system was initially implemented and tracks trends over three years in the use of programme advisories and content codes. It also evaluates public service announcements designed to prevent handgun violence among adolescents. Finally, it provides new analyses of `high risk' presentations of violence most likely to adversely affect younger audiences.

Discusses why and how we should rate the content of television programs for violence

Based on the largest and most representative sample of television content ever evaluated by a single scientific study, "National Television Violence Study" offers a commentary on the state of violence on American television for viewers, policy-makers, the media industry, and media scholars. It analyzes the content of television programming with a special focus on the nature and context of violent portrayals and their likely effect on audiences. The study includes: a content analysis of violence in television drama and comedy series, movies children's shows, and music videos; research on violence in reality programs; studies of how program ratings and advisories are used on television and the role they play in the viewing decisions of children; and profiles of potential target audiences for future anti-violence campaigns and a content analysis of current anti-violence public service announcements. -- From publisher's description.

Presents the results after one year of a three-year project assessing violence on television. Analyzes the content and context of violence in series, movies, daytime television, children's shows, and music videos, as well as "reality shows" such as news, talk shows, and police shows. Discusses how ratings and advisories are being used, and the effe.

Concern about violence on television has been publicly debated for the past 50 years. TV violence has repeatedly been identified as a significant causal agent in relation to the prevalence of crime and violence in society. Critics have accused the medium of presenting excessive quantities of violence, to the point where it is virtually impossible for viewers to avoid it. This book presents the findings of the largest British study of violence on TV ever undertaken, funded by the broadcasting industry. The study was carried out at the same time as similar industry-sponsored research was being conducted in the United States, and one chapter compares findings from Britain and the U.S.A. The book concludes that it is misleading to accuse all broadcasters of presenting excessive quantities of violence in their schedules. This does not deny that problematic portrayals were found. But the most gory, horrific and graphic scenes of violence were generally contained within broadcasts available on a subscription basis or in programs shown at times when few children were expected to be watching. This factual analysis proves that broadcasters were meeting their obligations under their national regulatory codes of practice.