PTC's Credibility Challenged By TV Watchdog Group

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Rare are the attacks on TV pressure groups by other TV pressure groups.

But the Charleston, SC-based TV Watch said on Wednesday that the Parents Television Council's credibility is now in question -- especially when it comes to the methodology of its most recent study on so-called profanity.

On Tuesday, the PTC issued a report showing there was 70% more profanity on television than five years ago, pointing to 18 words that it said contributed to the problem. The PTC never revealed its methodology. The group called for more governmental regulation as a response.

TV Watch also points to a recent New York Times story that questions the PTC tactics when it comes to raising money. Former PTC executive Patrick Salazar said the PTC inflated its membership numbers to mislead donors, regulators and legislators -- all in an effort to increase the PTC fund-raising.

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The organization is worried about the mixed messages the PTC is sending the marketplace. It asserts that the PTC a few months ago -- after the NBA Finals in June -- applauded ABC for taking steps to ensure the games were appropriate for children and families.

TV Watch says its position is shared by about one-third of U.S. TV homes that have children -- that parents should decide what their kids see, rather than encourage government regulation.

In response, a PTC spokeswoman says its results only looked at the first two weeks of the season in 2010, and that it doesn't include broadcast network sports programming. She added that TV Watch never pointed out exactly what was wrong with the PTC research on profanity.

She also claimed that TV Watch was "funded by the networks."

On TV Watch's Web site, News Corp., CBS and NBC Universal are listed as part of the coalition that makes up the group -- but so are 24 other organizations and individuals, including American Conservative Union, Americans for Tax Reform, Black Filmmaker Foundation, Media Freedom Project, Minority Media & Telecommunications Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Independent Women's Forum.

1 comment about "PTC's Credibility Challenged By TV Watchdog Group".
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  1. William Hughes from Arnold Aerospace, November 11, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.

    PTC is a Joke! I tried to contact them with an Idea I had, a Petition Drive to get Congress and/or the FCC to amend the "V-Chip" Law so that it includes Commercials as well as Programming, but all I got from them is Solicitations for Donations. Their Website is horribly out-of-date, and when I tried to contact their Regional Associates I never got a response from their E-Mails, and all Phone Calls were to directed their Phone Mail, with no responses either.

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