About the PTC

New to the PTC?

Thank you for your interest in the Parents Television Council. We'd like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit more about our organization and offer ways that you can get involved and help to protect your children from entertainment’s negative effects.

The PTC Mission

To protect children and families from graphic sex, violence and profanity in the media, because of their proven long-term harmful effects.

Our Vision

To provide a safe and sound entertainment media environment for children and families across America.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The PTC often receives a lot of same type of questions from people. We have compiled some of these FAQs to help you understand our mission a bit better.

Ways to Make a Difference

1. Be Informed

The PTC aims to provide parents with the tools they need to make informed television viewing decisions. We do this by monitoring primetime television shows on broadcast TV and reviewing many PG and G rated movies. We log all content that could be considered questionable by parents and we give them traffic light ratings according to the amount of sex, violence, and profanity incorporated into the TV series or movie.

Family Guide
Includes a short summary of the series or movie with detailed content examples to let parents know what they can expect when viewing the show or movie with their children. Each parent should carefully evaluate the content of the program and decide for his/her own family what is suitable and what is not. Our Family Guide to Primetime Television also helps serve as a quick reference for "what's on TV tonight?" and our PTC Picks will list some viewing choices for every day of the week.

Receive email updates on topics that impact your children
Sign up to receive free email updates, including the weekly PTC ebulletin, the Weekly Wrap. This keeps you informed about fast-breaking news important to you and your family. Every so often, you may also receive a "Take action" email when it is neccesary to contact an advertiser, the FCC, a member of congress, or a network.

Weekly Columns & Reviews
As well as highlighted in our weekly newsletter, we list all our columns under the News & Reviews section of our website, we feature several columns and studies which keep readers up to date on the BEST and the MOST OUTRAGEOUS TV content and trends.

        - Best of Broadcast TV
        - Worst of Broadcast TV
        - Worst on Cable TV

The PTC Watchdog Blog
Subscribe to the PTC Watchdog Blog for thoughtful insights into the media world.

Research and Studies
The PTC publishes highly acclaimed special reports and studies which receive nationwide attention and consistently spark national debate concerning broadcast indecency, localism, cable a la carte, the television ratings system, and the absence of family programming.

2. Take Action

The PTC has also organized campaigns that encourage more action to be taken by legislators and other entities involved. When learning about these campaigns you may feel the need to contact an elected officials or other stakeholder. You can do so easily in our "Action Center".

Current Campaigns
Advertiser Accountability | Cable Choice | Broadcast Indecency
Media Violence | Female Sexualization

Contact the stakeholders
    - The Advertisers
    - The Networks
    - The FCC
    - Congress

3. Join a PTC Grassroots Chapter

Currently there are more than 40 chapters throughout the country that help implement PTC national issues on the local level. Check out the “Grassroots” section of our website and see if there is a chapter in your community. If there is one then e-mail the chapter director and volunteer your time. Every chapter is different but it only takes a few hours a month to spread the PTC word in your community.

4. Spread the Word

The only way we can achieve our goal is if we work together. There really is power in numbers! Please help spread the word about the PTC by sharing our information using Social Media. Please take advantage of these to inform your community and friends about the PTC. Remember there is strength in numbers.

5. Donate to the PTC

Want to support the PTC mission but don’t feel like you have time to "Take Action"? A great way help the PTC continue efforts to eradicate sex, violence, and profanity on television is to send a gift to the PTC. You can make your safe and secure online donation on our website, download a donation form, or you can send in your check payable to the Parents Television Council at 707 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 2075, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Either way, your donation is tax deductible. Remember the cable companies are putting up nearly half a billion dollars to try and stop our efforts to achieve Cable Choice for America’s families.

The power of the PTC is in its members! We need you to help us continue to fight for you and your family.