Hearst-Argyle Television one of the country's largest television station owners, has formally declined to air advertising for R-rated movies before 9:00 p.m. in all time zones. Hearst-Argyle is the
largest ABC affiliate group and the second-largest NBC affiliate group. The Company's stations also include some of the highest-rated affiliates of the CBS, WB and UPN Networks. "This has been an
informal policy at our group, and at this point we've chosen to make it a firm rule across all our stations," said Anthony J. Vinciquerra, Hearst-Argyle EVP and COO. "We will also be very careful not
to accept such advertising in any program that has substantial children's viewership. While there's obviously no guarantee that children will not be watching TV after 9:00 p.m., we believe this will
reduce their exposure to this advertising and, importantly, increase parents' ability to monitor this exposure."
