Television Code - Set of voluntary standards
established in March 1, 1952 by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
by which television stations should conduct themselves in the areas of
programming and advertising.
The code forbade the use of "profanity, obscenity, smut and vulgarity." and
instructed producers of television programs to be especially sensitive when
depicting sex, violence and horror and alcohol on the screen.
In 1975, the television industry adopted the "family viewing time" that
required that the programs airing between the hours of 7:00 and 9:00 P.M. be
suitable for all members of the family viewing audience.
This results in a marked drop in violence on the air in "family time" during
the 1975-76 season. Members abiding by the rules won the privilege of displaying
the NAB seal of good practice.
On November 4, 1976, federal Judge Warren J. Ferguson overturns the NAB
policy, deeming it ("family viewing time") a violation of free speech.
In 1983, Judge Harold Greene ruled in "United States v. NAB that the
Television Code violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and was responsible for
keeping the cost of TV commercials artificially high and declared the code
In the 1990s, Congress intervened and reestablished some guidelines for
commercials and TV violence allowed on children's programming.
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