Television content rating systems are systems for evaluating the content and reporting the suitability of television programmes for minors. Many countries have their own television rating system and countries' rating processes vary by local priorities. Programmes are rated by the organization that manages the system, the broadcaster, or the content producers.
A rating is usually set for each individual episode of a television series. The rating can change per episode, network, rerun, and country. As such, programme ratings are usually not meaningful unless when and where the rating is used is mentioned.
Comparison table
A comparison of current television content rating systems, showing age on the horizontal axis. Note however that the specific criteria used in assigning a classification can vary widely from one country to another. Thus a color code or age range cannot be directly compared from one country to another.
Key:
White – No restrictions: Suitable for all ages / Aimed at young audiences / Exempt / Not rated / No applicable rating.
Yellow – Advisory: Parental guidance is suggested for designated age range.
Purple – Strong advisory: Not recommended for a younger audience but not restricted.
Red – Restricted: Parental accompaniment required for younger audiences.
Black – Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audience / Restricted to a specific audience / Purchase age-restricted / Banned.
M: May air only from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm (except ABC Me) and from 7:30 pm (8:30 pm for ABC Me) to 5:00 am MA 15+: May air only from 8:30 pm (9:00 pm for ABC Me) to 5:00 am
General broadcast: 16: May air only from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am 18: May air only from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am
0
6
12
16
18
X
Pay-per-view (FSF rated) 0 / 6 / 12: May air any time 12: May air only from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am 16: May air only from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am 18: May air only from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am
8: May air only 30 minutes after the kid-friendly zone 12: May air only from 9:30 pm to 6:00 am or from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am on weekends and school holidays 16: May air only from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am 18: May air only from 01:00 am to 6:00 am
B: Cannot air between 6:00 a.m. and 3:59 p.m. B-15: May air only from 7:00 pm to 5:59 am C: May air only from 9:00 pm to 5:59 am D: May air only from midnight to 5:00 am
-10, −12: Cannot be broadcast between 12:00 pm and 7:00 pm (may be broadcast between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm) on weekdays; cannot be broadcast between 2:00 pm and 12:00 am on weekends and holidays -16: May air only from 10:30 pm to 12:00 am
12: May air only from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am 15: May air only from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am 18: May air only from 12:00 am to 5:00 am 18+ and 18++: Not allowed on free-to-air channels
PG 13:May air only from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am (digital TV only) May air only from 11:30 am to 5:00 am (analog TV only) PG 18: May air only from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am Adults: May air only from midnight to 5:00 am
Categories of the Argentinian classification system
Apto para todo público (ATP) (English: suitable for all audiences) – programmes may contain mild violence, language and mature situations;
Apto para mayores de 13 años (SAM 13) (English: suitable for ages 13 and up) – programmes may contain mild to moderate language and mild violence and sexual references;
Apto para mayores de 16 años (SAM 16) (English: suitable for ages 16 and up) – programmes may contain more intensive violence and coarse language, partial nudity and moderate sexual references;
Apto para mayores de 18 años (SAM 18) (English: suitable for ages 18 and up) – programmes contain graphic violence, coarse language and strong sexual references.
Starting from September 2010, it is compulsory for broadcasters to show the plaque Comienza el horario apto para todo público (English: Start time of suitable for all age schedule) and Finaliza el horario apto para todo público (English: End time of suitable for all age schedule) at 6:00 a.m. or 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. respectively. In addition, the plaque Atención: Contenido no apto para niños, niñas y adolescentes (English: Warning: Content not suitable for children and adolescents) is shown before news broadcasts.
A television content rating system for Armenia was introduced in June 2006 (first tested in Yerevan in January 2006).[1] Before a programme airs, a warning is narrated at the beginning of the programme to warn viewers that the content may not be suitable for all viewers. Armenian ratings should be displayed for 15 seconds at the beginning of the programme and after leaving the commercial block. The Armenian ratings are as follows:
General ratings
GA – suitable for general audiences
EC – suitable for ages 2 and up
E – suitable for ages 5 and up
E9 – suitable for ages 9 and up
T – suitable for ages 12 and up
M – suitable for ages 16 and up
AO – suitable for ages 17 and up.
A – suitable only for adults ages 18 and up, it can be broadcast from 8:00 to 14:00 on weekends (from 9:00 to 15:00 on weekdays and from 22:00 to 6:00 daily for "Armenia TV") to 6:00 daily free-to-air (except for premium channels).
Programmes deemed to specifically meet the educational needs and interests of children of school age who are 14 years or younger. C-rated content must be broadcast between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. or between 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m on weekdays or 7 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on weekends and school holidays.[2]
P
Preschoolers
Programmes deemed to specifically meet the educational needs and interests of preschool children who have not yet started school. P-rated content must be broadcast between 7 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.[2]
Standard ratings
Classifications are intended to be equivalent to the Australian Classification Board (ACB) classifications of the same name. They're usually presented with the same shape and sometimes colour as their ACB counterparts.[3]
Symbol
Abbreviation
Name
Description
E
Exempt
Exempt from classification; Only very specific types of material can be exempt from classification and the material cannot contain anything that exceeds the constraints of the PG classification. These include news & current affairs, sports broadcasting, education videos and certain documentaries.
G
General
General exhibition, suitable for all ages but not necessarily intended for children and may be more suitable for older children or adults. Content is VERY MILD in impact. G content may air at any time of day.
PG
Parental Guidance Recommended
Parental guidance is recommended for people under 15 years. Content is MILD in impact; Elements in these programmes may require parental supervision for young children. PG content may air at any time of the day.
M
Mature
Recommended for viewing by persons aged 15 years or over. Content is MODERATE in impact; These programmes may require a mature perspective and are deemed not suitable for all children. M content may only be broadcast between 7:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on any day, and additionally between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on school days.
MA 15+
Mature Accompanied
Not suitable for people under 15. Content is STRONG in impact. MA 15+ programming may only be broadcast between 8:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on any given day. Consumer advice is mandatory.
AV 15+
Mature Accompanied (Adult Violence) No longer used
Not suitable for people under 15. The category deal with content or contain depictions that require a more mature perspective. Violence is STRONG in impact; this classification was the same as MA 15+, except the "AV" stands for "Adult Violence". AV 15+ content was broadcast between 9:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on any day. Consumer advice is mandatory.
The AV 15+ classification was abolished after 30 November 2015.[4] Strong impact violence is now incorporated into the MA 15+ classification.
Adult "Pay Per View" only
Symbol
Abbreviation
Name
Description
R 18+
Restricted R 18+
Not for anyone under 18; this is limited to Adult "Pay Per View" VC 196 and 197, access to these programmes is locked by a personal password. Content may include prolonged scenes of intense violence, sexual situations, coarse language and strong drug use.
X 18+
Restricted X 18+
Contains material that is pornographic in nature. No one under 18 may legally rent, buy, possess, exhibit, hire, or view these programmes, on television, DVD, or otherwise. The exhibition or sale of these programmes to people under the age of 18 years is a criminal offence carrying a maximum fine of $5,500.
R 18+ and X 18+ restricted classifications are not permitted for free-to-air broadcast in Australia. Many R 18+ movies on DVD/Blu-ray are often edited on Free TV/cable networks, to secure an MA 15+ classification or lower. Some movies that were classified R 18+ on DVD have since been aired on Australian TV with an MA 15+ classification.
Consumer advice
Consumer advice is compulsory for all MA 15+ and one-off programmes, as well as very short series classified M or higher (such as feature films, miniseries and documentaries).[5] When a programme carries consumer advice, appropriate abbreviations are displayed along with the classification symbol after each commercial break. In general, these abbreviations are as follows:[6]
For violence, coarse language and sex scenes, the intensity and/or frequency is mentioned in front of the consumer advice. These include: "mild", "stylised", "some", "frequent" or "strong". Example: "strong sex scenes".
A television content rating system in Brazil was implemented following a consultation in 2006.[7] Since then, the television networks themselves rate the shows, while the advisory rating (Portuguese: Classificação Indicativa) judges the content to guarantee that the rating is appropriate for that specific show.[8] On broadcast networks, where the system is mandatory, the ratings are also translated in Brazilian Sign Language, and may also carry content descriptors. The icons must be shown at the start of each block of the show, and their respective promos.[9]
All rating is advisory unlike films. The Brazilian content rating system utilizes age-specific classifications (with the exception of L-rated programming), and generally follow the film ratings. However, unlike with films, television programmes can be rated by the broadcaster with the need to formally submit them for a rating, although the Department of Justice, Ratings, Titles and Qualification (DEJUS) reserves the right to revise the rating.[9] Ratings assigned by the broadcaster mirror those assigned by DEJUS, but are preceded by the letter "A".[10]
Symbols
Abbreviations
Name
Description
L
Livre para todos os públicos
Content is suitable for all audiences
AL
10
Não recomendado para menores de 10 anos
Content suitable for viewers over the age of 10.
A10
12
Não recomendado para menores de 12 anos
Content suitable for viewers over the age of 12.
A12
14
Não recomendado para menores de 14 anos
Content suitable for viewers over the age of 14.
A14
16
Não recomendado para menores de 16 anos
Content suitable for viewers over the age of 16.
A16
18
Não recomendado para menores de 18 anos
Content suitable for viewers over the age of 18.
A18
Bulgaria
All television stations show the rating during the broadcast in Bulgaria.
In the current system there are five rating categories:
Unrated – can be viewed for each age
12 – Content suitable for viewers over the age of 12.
14 – Content suitable for viewers over the age of 14.
16 – Content suitable for viewers over the age of 16.
18 – Content suitable for viewers over the age of 18. (Not allowed before 23:00)
Canada
The Canadian TV Classification System was created in late 1997[citation needed] for English-language programmes to use, which lined up with those of the American v-chip, both matching that system and allowing television manufacturers to use the same backbone firmware for both systems. The upper-right corner of symbols are shaped like the corner of a maple leaf, as is used in the national flag, and are rendered in black and white. The icons are intended to be shown once an hour lasting 15 seconds, although in the case of longer programmes that do not start on the hour, some broadcasters show the rating at the start and at the top of each subsequent clock hour, while others show the rating at the start and again precisely one hour later. However, there are some networks like Global that only display the television rating at the beginning of the show. The icons are displayed in the upper-left corner and the size is mandated to be a minimum of 52 scan lines or pixels tall, and must also fully cover an American ratings icon if burned-in or broadcast live by an American broadcaster.[11][12]
Additionally, should a programme contain content potentially unsuitable for some viewers, such as violence, coarse language, or nudity, members of the self-regulating Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (which does not include the CBC, although it still uses such warnings) are required to air a disclaimer at the beginning of the programme and at the end of each commercial break, advising viewer discretion (such disclaimers are only required for the first hour if airing after 9:00 p.m.). This disclaimer is technically required even if the final commercial break comes immediately before the closing credits, and some (but not all) channels in fact observe this.[13]
Notably, the television rating given may depend on the level of cable and satellite, or if the programme is broadcast over-the-air. Also, television ratings are generally considered more restrictive than movie ratings.
English-language ratings
Canadian Television Ratings
The Canadian rating system for English-language broadcasters (as well as third-language broadcasters, which broadcast in a language other than English or French) is as follows:[14][11]
Exempt – Programming that is exempt from ratings (such as news and sports programming) will not display an on-screen rating at all.
C – Programming is intended for younger children under the age of 8 years. No offensive language or sexual content of any level allowed. Might contain occasional comedic, unrealistic depictions of violence.
C8 – Intended for children ages 8+. Infrequent/mild violence and fantasy horror is allowed. No profanity is allowed, but occasional "socially offensive and discriminatory" language is allowed if in the context of the story. No sexual content of any level allowed.
G – Intended for general audiences. Programming suitable for the entire family with minimal and infrequent violence. No profanity is allowed, but offensive slang is permitted. No sexual content.
PG – Intended for general audiences, but may not be suitable for children under the age of 8. Moderate violence and infrequent/mild profanity is allowed. May contain brief nudity and sexual references if important to the context of the story. Some content may not be suitable for children under the age of 8 and parental supervision is recommended for children aged 8–13.
14+ – Programming intended for viewers ages 14 and older. May contain intense violence and strong/frequent profanity. Might contain nudity and depictions of sexual activity as long as they are within the context of a story. Parents are strongly cautioned to exercise discretion in permitting viewing by pre-teens and early teens without parent/guardian supervision.
18+ – Programming intended for viewers ages 18 and older. May contain explicit violence, graphic language, and explicit portrayals of sexual activity. Programming with this rating cannot air before the watershed (9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.).
G: Général (general) – appropriate for all ages and must contain little or no violence and little to no sexual content.
8+ ans – appropriate for children 8 and up may contain with little violence, language, and little to no sexual situations;
13+ ans – suitable for children 13 and up and may contain with moderate violence, language, and some sexual situations;
16+ ans – recommended for children over the age of 16 and may contain with strong violence, strong language, and strong sexual content;
18+ ans – recommended to be viewed by adults and may contain extreme violence and graphic sexual content. It is mostly used for 18+ movies and pornography.
An E rating (no rating will appear on screen) is given to exempt programming, in the same classes used for English-Canadian programming above.
Before 1993, television in Chile didn't possess a content rating system (the closest thing to that was broadcasting a warning at the beginning of broadcasting watershed, usually at 9:30 p.m.) The (National Association of Television [es]) devised a content rating system in 1993 and began being used on 23 March that same year, consisting of 2 ratings mostly.[citation needed]
F Familiar (family) – programmes suitable for a general audience, with content appropriate for all ages.
R Responsabilidad compartida (shared responsibility) – programmes may have content not suitable for children under 12 not accompanied by an adult.
A Adulto (adult) – programmes suitable for adult audiences only (ages 18 or older), may contain coarse language, violence, and sexual or explicit situations. Initially an add-on by UC-TV and Megavisión, by 1995 all other channels adopted it as well. Access to these programmes is locked by a personal password.[citation needed]
Exhibition of programmes classified with the "A" rating is only allowed from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. (both in local time); however, most of the time, channels only broadcast these programmes until they closedown their daily broadcasts (permanent 24/7 services began being adopted in 2022 for most channels). All TV channels are required to show a warning (either as a full-screen identification or as a scrolling text message in a lower-third format, if shown during programming) when adult programming on the channel begins. Only cable TV channels are exempt from the rule (though penalties due to adult programmes broadcast before watershed have been given)
In 1997, Anatel added 4 more ratings for children's programming.
I Infantil (English: for children) – programmes suitable for all children;
I7 Infantil para mayores de 7 años – programmes recommended for children ages 7 or older;
I10 Infantil para mayores de 10 años – programmes recommended for children ages 10 or older;
I12 Infantil para mayores de 12 años – programmes recommended for children and teens ages 12 or older.
In addition to these ratings, TV channels also have a rating C, used exclusively for cultural programmes. Some programmes (like newscasts and sports) are exempt of any rating altogether.
Colombia
Since 1997,[16]Colombian television networks are required to specify programmes within dubbed family and adult fringes, and must display a notice signifying the audience, both visually and in narration, the minimum age required to watch the programme, if it contains sexual or violent content, and if parental company is needed at the beginning of every programme.[17] The networks must also air an 'institutional message' daily at 21:00, inviting children 12 years of age or less to "not to stay exposed to contents which have no essentially child[-oriented] nature."[18][19] A message must be broadcast at 22:10, Monday through Friday, (22:30 Saturdays and Sundays) stating to viewers that the adult fringe has started. Most networks opt to display a scrolling text message instead.[19]
The ratings are as follows:
Todos (all audiences) – daily, from the hours of 07:00–21:30;
Infantil (children) – Monday through Friday from 16:00–17:00, and Saturdays and Sundays from 08:00–10:00;
Familiar (family) – Monday to Friday from 07:00–16:00 and 17:00–22:10, and Saturdays and Sundays 07:00–08:00 and 10:00–22:30, respectively.
Adultos (adult audiences) – Programming dubbed with this classification run through the remaining time slots not specified by the Infantil and Familiar fringes.
Pornography is prohibited from being transmitted over the air in Colombia, even in the adult fringes.[20]
Croatia
In Croatia, television networks show the rating during the broadcast. The Hrvatska Radiotelevizija (Croatian Radiotelevision) channels, RTL Televizija, RTL 2, Nova TV and Doma TV all display warnings before a broadcast not meant for a general audience. Broadcasts meant for all audiences do not have a rating. With that in mind, the rating system is the following:
12 – Content suitable for children of 12 years of age or older.
15 – Content suitable for teens of 15 years of age or older.
18 – Content suitable for adults of 18 years of age or older.
Cyprus
In Cyprus, television networks displays warnings before a broadcast not meant for a general audience. With that in mind, the rating system is the following:
K – Content suitable for all viewers.
12 – Content suitable for children of 12 years of age or older.
15 – Content suitable for teens of 15 years of age or older.
18 – Content suitable for adults of 18 years of age or older. (Broadcast allowed from 1:00 to 6:00)
Denmark
The Danish ratings administered by the Media Council for Children and Young People
Since 1 September 2020, the Medierådet for Børn og Unge (Media Council for Children and Young People) classifies all programmes and films for television broadcast and video on demand release, using the same rating also used for theatrically released films and home media releases. On television, the age limit must be informed orally before the programme starts or continues. The clear rating should be shown during the entire transmission time or a minimum first five minutes, and must be available in programme listings. Films and series on VOD services must have age ratings and mention the content in them that explains why the content was given its rating. The location of the rating is up to the individual provider as long as it is visible to the consumer before choosing a film or program. The new television classification system only applies to domestic television and VOD services such as DR, TV 2, TV3, Kanal 4 and Viaplay, and as such do not apply to foreign services such as Netflix, HBO Max or Disney+. The requirements apply to all programming outside of news & current affairs, music, sports, live telecasts, instructional & leisure programmes, programming of nonprofit, political or religious nature, preface of programmes and teaching & research programmes.[21]
Article 65 of the Communications Law of Ecuador presents the following classification:[22]
A:Apto para todo público (Suitable for all age groups). It can be transmitted at any time, especially in the "FAMILIAR" (FAMILY), from 6:00 to 18:00.
B:Apto para todo público, con vigilancia de una persona adulta (Suitable for all age groups, with supervision of an adult). Under 12 needs an adult. It can be transmitted at any time, especially in "RESPONSABILIDAD COMPARTIDA" (SHARED RESPONSIBILITY), from 18:00 to 22:00; but not during FAMILIAR.
C:Apto solo para personas adultas (Suitable only for adults). It can be transmitted only during the hours of "ADULTOS" (ADULT), from 22:00 to 6:00.
The classification to which belongs each programme will be arranged by the Consejo de Regulación y Desarrollo de la Información y Comunicación (Regulatory and Development Council of Information and Communication) depending on the parameters which are considered relevant.
El Salvador
The Dirección de Espectáculos Públicos, Radio y Televisión (Direction of Public Shows, Radio and Television), entity attached to the Ministerio de Gobernación y Desarrollo Territorial (Ministry of Interior and Territorial Development), regulates the contents exhibited in Salvadoran television.
A:Apto para todo público (Suitable for all age groups). It can be transmitted at any time.
B:Apto para mayores de 12 años (Suitable for over 12 years). It can be transmitted at any time.
C:Apto para mayores de 15 años (Suitable for over 15 years). It can be transmitted at any time.
D:Apto para mayores de 18 años (Suitable for over 18 years). It can be transmitted at any time.
E:Apto para mayores de 21 años (Suitable for over 21 years). It can be transmitted from 22:00 to 5:00.
Finland
The ratings system for television programmes shown on Finnish television channels consists of the following[23]:
S (orT for Swedish-language programming) – allowed at all times; suitable for all audiences
7 – allowed at all times, not recommended for persons under 7;
12 – allowed at all times, not recommended for persons under 12;
16 – not allowed air before 9:00 p.m., not recommended for persons under 16;
18 – not allowed air before 11:00 p.m., not recommended for persons under 18.
France
A content rating system in French is regulated by the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA).[24] Each rating icon is translucent and, as of December 2012, is shown for the whole duration of the show.[25]
If no rating appears, it is most likely appropriate for all ages.
Déconseillé aux moins de 10 ans (English: not recommended for children under 10) – not allowed in children's television series;
Déconseillé aux moins de 12 ans (English: not recommended for children under 12) – not allowed air before 10:00 p.m. (some channels and programmes are subject to exception);
Déconseillé aux moins de 16 ans (English: not recommended for children under 16) – not allowed air before 10:30 p.m. (some channels and programmes are subject to exception);
Déconseillé aux moins de 18 ans (English: not recommended for persons under 18) – allowed only between midnight and 5 a.m.
There initially was no ratings system for French television. In March 1961, following the broadcast of a film where a female nude was briefly visible, the "white square" was introduced. A white square, replaced by a white rectangle in 1964, was displayed in the corner of the screen. An off-screen voice warned at the beginning of the programme that it was unsuitable for all audiences. This system continued until 1996 when the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel replaced it with a system of five pictograms, indicating the suitability of the program. This system was replaced by the current system on 18 November 2002.[26]
Germany
Categories of the German television classification system
In Germany, every broadcaster has to show a disclaimer displaying the sentence Die nachfolgende Sendung ist für Zuschauer unter 16/18 Jahren nicht geeignet before transmission if the programme contains potentially offensive content.[27] This roughly translates to The following programme is not suitable for viewers under 16/18. The Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Fernsehen [de] (FSF) checks many shows in private television.[28]
0 – For all ages.
6 – For ages 6 and up.
12 – For ages 12 and up, split between content that can be broadcast any time, and content that can only be broadcast from 20:00.
16 – For ages 16 and up, can only be broadcast between 22:00 and 06:00.
18 – For ages 18 and up, can only be broadcast between 23:00 and 06:00.
X - No broadcast.
Ghana
In Ghana, TV series and selected TV programmes are classified by the Film Classification Committee:[29][30]
Categories of the Ghana classification system
U – Universal for all categories of persons.
PG – Viewers below twelve are to watch under Parental Guidance.
12+ – For persons of twelve years and above (generally suitable for children aged under 12).
15+ – For persons of fifteen years and above (aimed at a teenage audience).
18+ – For persons of eighteen years and above only (specifically for adults).
A new content rating system in Greece was introduced on 30 September 2019.[31] The system is now associated with the age of viewers and has new visual symbols (replacing rhombus, circle, triangle, square and cross symbols), however, there are no mature-accompanied ratings compared to the previous system. The ratings are compulsory and are displayed and verbally announced at the beginning of each broadcast. These provisions are enforced by the Greek National Council for Radio and Television (ESR).
K – suitable for all ages
8 – suitable for ages 8 and up (allowed only 30 minutes after the kid-friendly zone)
12 – suitable for ages 12 and up (allowed only between 9:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., or between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. during Fridays, Saturdays and school holidays)
16 – suitable for ages 16 and up (allowed only between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.)
18 – suitable for ages 18 and up (allowed only between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.)
Also, programmes suitable for ages 12 and up will be accompanied by a special word marker identifying their content, which is divided into the following four categories:
ΒΙΑ (English: VIOLENCE): The programme contains scenes of violence.
ΣΕΞ (English: SEX): The programme contains sex scenes.
ΧΡΗΣΗ ΟΥΣΙΩΝ (English: USE OF SUBSTANCES): The programme contains scenes of drug use and other addictive substances.
ΑΚΑΤΑΛΛΗΛΗ ΦΡΑΣΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ (English: INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE): The programme contains inappropriate language.
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong television rating system is since by generic code of television programmes standard of the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap.562) on 11 December 1995.[32] The current ratings are:
If no rating appears, it is for general audiences.
PG (parental guidance recommended) – programmes are unsuitable for children, parental guidance is recommended; programmes that are classified as 'PG' should not be broadcast between 4:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. every day, as this is a watershed devised for family viewing.
M (mature) – programmes are recommended for adult viewers above the age of 18, only allowed to be shown between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Before 24 September 2020, the programmes were only allowed to be shown between 11:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
In the current Hungarian content rating system, there are five rating categories:
Unrated – programmes can be viewed by any age, also used for content exempt from classification such as sporting events
children friendly – programmes recommended for children. It is an optional rating, there is no obligation for broadcasters to indicate it. May not air between two programmes with higher classifications, for example, between two programmes rated 6+ or rated 12+. The green kid's face is used for that rating. This rating was retired in 2017 but was reintroduced in 2021.
6 – programmes not recommended for children below the age of 6, may contain mild violence in a cartoony setting, but no sexual content or profanity. May not air between two programmes with higher classifications. A yellow circle with the number 6 written inside is used for this rating;
12 – programmes not recommended for children below the age of 12, may contain light sexual content or mild to moderate use of profanity. Most films without serious violence or sexual content fit into this category as well. The 12 rating can fit to all commercials as well. May not air between two programmes with lower classifications, for example, two programmes rated 6+ or without ratings. A yellow circle with the number 12 written inside is used for this rating;
16 – programmes not recommended for teens and children below the age of 16, may contain more intensive violence and sexual content, as well as references to illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Strong language can be used in this category as well. May only air from 9 PM to 6 AM. A yellow circle with the number 16 written inside is used for this rating;
18 – the programmes is recommended for adult viewers (for ages 18 and up), may contain explicit violence, explicit sexual content and since 2021, content considered "homosexual propaganda and transgender". May only air from 10 PM to 5 AM. A red circle with the number 18 written inside is used for this rating.
Similar ratings also apply to films shown in cinemas, however unlike in other countries a viewer cannot be denied access from entering a screening if they are not the age of the rating.[34]
Since 8 July 2021, due to the Hungarian anti-LGBT law, several Hungarian channels – just like RTL Klub and TV2 – have also begun to use these ratings on their commercial breaks. There was also formerly an X rating: however, due to a law change on 1 October 2022, X-rated content can no longer be aired on Hungarian television.
SU – Semua Umur (All Ages) – suitable for all ages over the age of 2 years;
P – Prasekolah (Preschool) – suitable for preschool children aged 2 through 6 (not yet in use by any TV channel);
A – Anak-anak (Children) – suitable for children from ages 7 through 12;
R – Remaja (Teenagers) – suitable for teens from ages 13 through 17;
D – Dewasa (Adult) – suitable for viewers over 18 and older. Programmes with this rating may only be aired between 22:00 local time and 03:00 local time the next day.
There is unofficially also a BO (Bimbingan Orangtua, Parental Guidance) subrating often used accompanied with the above ratings (P-BO, A-BO, or R-BO). The KPI Broadcasting Code does not regulate the BO rating; instead it requires broadcasters to show a "viewer discretion advised" card before the beginning of a P, A, or R-rated program; however many broadcasters does not show this card.
In addition, all films and advertisements broadcast in Indonesia must be rated by the Film Censorship Agency (LSF) and use the ratings provided by the LSF to rate those films and advertisements broadcast.[36] Although the Broadcasting Code only requires films and advertisements to be rated by the LSF prior to broadcast, many broadcasters opted to have all prerecorded programs (not just films and advertisements) to be rated by the LSF and use the ratings given by the LSF on rating those programs.
Israel
G: General Audiences. Anyone, regardless of age, can watch the programme.
12+: Suitable for children 12 and over only.
15+: Suitable for teens 15 and over only.
18+: Suitable for adults 18 and over only.
E: Exempt from classification. This rating is usually applied to live broadcasts.
Italy
Italy has no unified classification for TV content. The classification system changes according to each station and is not legally binding. The first group to introduce the TV rating system was Mediaset in 1994, initially only on Canale 5. Italia 1 and Rete 4 adopted the rating system in 1997, while the thematic channels adopted it in 2009. Given the simplicity of the classification system, inspired by traffic lights, the other broadcasters also followed the example of Mediaset. The ratings adopted by Mediaset are the following:
Bollino verde (Green label) – Suitable for all ages.
Programmes with the red label can be blocked by parental control.
RAI introduced the TV rating system in October 2000, with a flashing red logo to indicate programmes that are suitable only for adults. In 2007 the classification system was expanded with new logos: red if the programme is suitable only for adults and yellow if the parental guidance is suggested for children.
The classifications used by Sky Italia are instead the following:
T – All ages admitted.
BA – Parental guidance suggested.
VM12 – Not recommended for children under 12.
VM14 – Not recommended for children under 14.
VM18 – Not recommended for children under 18.
Programmes can be blocked by parental control.
Lithuania
All television stations show the rating during the broadcast in Lithuania.
Broadcasts meant for all audiences do not have a rating.
With that in mind, the rating system is the following:
N-7 – Content suitable for children of 7 years of age or older.
N-14 – Content suitable for teens of 14 years of age or older.
S – Content suitable for adults of 18 years of age or older.
In Malaysia, television rating systems were introduced on 1 January 1996, divided into two categories – General and Above-18.[38] The latter category was sub-divided into 18G for violent scenes, 18SX for sex scenes, 18SR for horror scenes, 18LL for content that are contrary to Malaysia's "religious, social and political values" and 18PL for content that have two or more of the aforementioned themes.[38] These could only be shown after 10 pm.[38]
A updated version of the system was created in January 2012. Ratings are shown before the programme starts.
The new film/television classification logos introduced since February 2023
The ratings were revised in February 2023, and are as follows:
U (Malay: umum) – No age limit. Can be broadcast anytime.
P12 – Viewers under 12 years of age need parental/guardian supervision while viewing.
13 – For viewers 13 and above.
16 – For viewers 16 and above.
18 – For viewers 18 and above. Cannot be broadcast before 10:00 PM.
*Ratings P12, 13, and 16, can be broadcast anytime, but some elements may only be broadcast at night.
Mexico
The classification system of television programmes in Mexico is almost equivalent to that of the movie rating system of the country, and consists of the following:
AA – aimed at children (can be broadcast anytime);
A – appropriate for all ages;
B – designed for ages 12 and older (allowed only between 16:00 and 05:59);
B-15 – designed for ages 15 and up (allowed only between 19:00 and 05:59);
C – designed to be viewed by adults aged 18 or older (allowed only between 21:00 and 05:59);
D – exclusively for adults aged 18 or older (allowed only between midnight and 05:00);[39]
Morocco
The classification system of television programmes in Morocco is established by the HACA. There are 4 categories. Before the airing of the program, an off-screen voice warned at the beginning of the programme that it was unsuitable for all audiences.[40][41]
Category
Symbol
Name
Broadcast restriction
1
No symbol
All audiences
No restriction
2
Not recommended for under 10
Prohibited broadcast from 12:00 to 14:00 and between 17h and 19h from Monday to Friday, until 14h on Saturday and Sunday
3
Not recommended for under 12
Prohibited broadcast from 12:00 to 14:00 and between 17h and 19h from Monday to Friday, until 14h on Saturday and Sunday
4
Not recommended for under 16
No broadcast daily before 22:30
Netherlands
The television rating system in the Netherlands was created in 2001 by the Dutch Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM) and is known as Kijkwijzer (ViewingGuide or WatchWiser). The same rating systems are used for both television programmes and films, and serve partly as guidelines (Programmes with the classification 12, 14 and 16 years may only be broadcast from 8pm and with the classification 18 years from midnight. Cinemas and theaters in the country cannot provide films with the classification 16 years to people under the age of 16). They are the same as Dutch film ratings.[42]
The following age ratings apply:
AL – All Ages (Alle leeftijden)
6 – Watch out with children under 6 (Let op met kinderen tot 6 jaar)
9 – Watch out with children under 9 (Let op met kinderen tot 9 jaar)
12 – Watch out with children under 12 (Let op met kinderen tot 12 jaar)
14 – Watch out with children under 14 (Let op met kinderen tot 14 jaar)
16 – Watch out with children under 16 (Let op met kinderen tot 16 jaar)
18 – Watch out with children under 18 (Let op met kinderen tot 18 jaar)
On 1 May 2020, New Zealand realigned its television content rating system to a common system for free-to-air television, subscription television and on-demand services:[43][44]
G: Approved for general viewing (this was unchanged from the previous rating system).
PG: Parental Guidance recommended for younger viewers (previously known as PGR, Parental Guidance Recommended).
M: Suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over.
16: People under 16 years should not view.
18: People under 18 years should not view.
The last three ratings replaced the former AO (Adults Only) classification.
On free-to-air television, programmes classified M can be broadcast between 9.00am and 3.00pm on weekdays (school term time only, as designated by the Ministry of Education) and from 7.30pm until 5.00am on a daily basis. Programmes classified 16 can only be broadcast after the 8.30pm watershed, while programmes classified 18 can only be broadcast after 9.30pm.
On pay television, where content filtering is not available, programmes classified 18 can only be broadcast between 8.00pm and 6.00am on a daily basis and from 9.00am until 3.00pm on weekdays (school term time only). If content filtering is available, programmes classified 18 can be broadcast at any time. Explicit adult sex programmes classified 18 may screen only on premium channels.
The following descriptor codes (audience advisories) may be added for programmes classified PG or higher:
C: Content may offend
L: Language may offend
V: Contains violence
S: Sexual content may offend
North Macedonia
North Macedonia uses five symbols for each programming.[45] They are as follows:
● – Programme can be watched for each age
● – Programmes not recommended for children below the age of 8 (parental supervision recommended under this age).
■ – Programmes not recommended for children below the age of 12 (parental supervision necessary under this age). Only broadcast between 20:00 to 5:00.
▲ – Programmes not recommended for children below the age of 16 (parental supervision necessary under this age). Only broadcast between 22:00 to 5:00.
X – Programmes not suitable for audiences under 18 years of age. Only broadcast between 0:00 to 5:00.
The symbols are put in the lower-left or lower right corner on screen.
Norway
In Norway Television broadcasters are obliged to classify their programmes in the following age categories: A (all ages), 6 years, 9 years, 12 years, 15 years or 18 years. The classification must be based on the guidelines made by The Norwegian Media Authority. Programmes in the different age categories must be transmitted according to the following time schedule during the day:
A, 6, 9 – allowed at all times
12 – only allowed during the period 19.00 – 05.30
15, 18 – only allowed during the period 21.00 – 05.30
Television broadcasters shall specify the age limit acoustically before the programme starts or clearly mark the programme with an age limit throughout its duration. Television broadcasters shall also specify the age limit in programme schedules and electronic programme guides. Content that is judged to be harmful to minors are a no-no from broadcast altogether. [46]
The age rating system in Peru was introduced in 2005 by the then-President Alejandro Toledo and came into force for both radio and television broadcasts. Currently, the only free-to-air channels advising their audiences about the rating system are ATV, NexTV and La Tele, since most channels adopted their own system since 2009, starting with América Televisión.
The ratings for television programmes are available on some Peruvian channels. The rating system used in Peru is listed below.
Symbol
Characters used
Spanish description
English translation
Apt
Apto para todo público
Suitable for all audiences
14
Apto para mayores de catorce años
Suitable for people aged 14 and above
18
Apto para mayores de dieciocho años
Suitable for people aged 18 and above (Only allowed after 23:00 and before 6:00)
In the Philippines, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, commonly known as MTRCB, implements and regulates local television content rating systems. In 1979,[citation needed] it only had implemented two television ratings: "General Viewership" (GV) later renamed (General Patronage/GP) in 1995 and "Parental Guidance" (PG), in the mid-1990s up until from now on, some advisories are simply written on the upper left side or at the lower right side of the television screen.
On 6 October 2011, in order to encourage parents to supervise and be responsible with their children in watching television, the MTRCB revamped its rating system, implementing a three-tiered system:[47][48][49]
May contain scenes or other content that are unsuitable for children without the guidance of a parent.[51]
SPG
Strong Parental Guidance
Striktong Patnubay at Gabay
Contains mature themes or moderate to intense violence, which may be deemed unfit for children to watch without strong and vigilant parental supervision.[52]
The new ratings system is similar to the old one, but the look and the ratings themselves were completely revamped. All of these were only implemented on Free to-Air Television stations. The new system consists of a new full-screen advisory of the programme's rating which is played before each programme, whatever the rating of such programme is, except in the case of programmes with SPG rating, wherein the rating must be aired twice (before the start of the programme and after each commercial break. e.g. in the middle part of the programme). A rating logo then appears at the bottom right of the screen during a programme if it was rated as such. Sometimes, when annotations are to be put and it takes the place of the logo, then it has to be put on the upper left side of the screen, opposite the logo of the TV station.[53][54]
On 9 February 2012, the SPG rating was implemented,[55] which utilizes at least one of the following content descriptors:
T for tema (themes);
L for lengguwahe (language);
K for karahasan (violence); {V is also used for programmes in English or a foreign language}
S for sekswal (sex);
H for horror; and
D for droga (drugs);
The SPG rating was first broadcast on the film Cinco which was aired in ABS-CBN, where it had its old advisory.
Poland
Before 2000, Poland did not have a uniform classification system for television programmes. Some stations, however, applied their own systems. TVP showed a card with the text "Adult only" or "Film for adult audiences only".[56]Canal+ used their set-top box key colors (green, yellow, red) to indicate "General Audiences",[57] "Most Likely for Adults"[58] and "For Adults".[59] Until 27 February 2000, TVN marked adult movies with a pulsating red circle.[60] On 1 March 2000, the "Friendly Media" agreement with the KRRiT and the broadcasters was reached to introduce a uniform system of classification. Eight television broadcasters – TVP, Polsat, TVN, Nasza TV, Canal+, Wizja TV, Polish Cable Television and TV Niepokalanów – had signed the agreement.
The current Polish television rating system was introduced on 15 August 2005 and consists of five icons which need to be broadcast for the entire duration of the program.[61] On 28 August 2011, their appearance was changed to the following:[62]
Symbol
Name
Broadcast restriction
Possible contents
No age limit
None
Positive or neutral view of the world, little to no violence, non-sexual love, and no sexual content.
For minors from age 7
None
As above; may additionally contain some mild language, bloodless violence, and a more negative view of the world.
For minors from age 12
None
May contain some foul language, some violence, and some sexual content.
For minors from age 16
Only 8 PM–6 AM
Deviant social behaviour, world filled with violence and sexuality, simplified picture of adulthood, display of physical force, especially in controversial social context (against or by parents, teachers, etc.), immoral behaviour without ethic dilemma, putting the blame on the victim, excessive concentration on material possessions.
Permitted from age of 18 only
Only 11 PM–6 AM
One-sided display of the joys of adult life without showing responsibilities (e.g. work), social justification of violent behaviour, excessive vulgarity, use of racial slurs and social stereotypes, explicit sexual content, praise of aggression or vulgarity, access to these programmes is locked by a personal password.
Since May 2022, this category is split further into four sub-categories:
P – Przemoc (Violence),
N – Narkotyki (Drugs), S – Seks (Sex) and W – Wulgaryzm (Vulgarity).
Portugal
For a long time, the only existing regulation on Portuguese television was that programmes with potentially shocking or harmful content could air only between 10:30pm and 6am and with a red circular marker on the top-right corner of the screen indicating it was for audiences aged 16 and over.
In 2006, all free-to-air networks decided to complement this rule with a shared, more detailed rating system for TV shows:
Todos (suitable for all)
10, Acompanhamento Parental (for spectators aged 10 or over; parental guidance required for children under 10)
12, Acompanhamento Parental (for spectators aged 12 or over; parental guidance required for children under 12)
16 (for spectators aged 16 or over; not suitable for children)
These logos must be shown during 10 seconds in the beginning of any programme and after every break. If a programme is rated 16, it can only be broadcast between 10:30pm and 6am.[63] However, most cable channels in Portugal use the Spanish classification system.
Republic of Moldova
In the Republic of Moldova, the rating system is identical to the one used in Romania, as follows:
Unrated – programmes can be viewed by any age
AP – programmes are recommended for children with parental guidance, may not contain any violence or sexual content.
12 or 12+ – programmes not recommended for children below the age of 12, may contain light sexual content or explicit language. Most films without serious violence or sexual content fit into this category as well. May only air from 8 PM to 6 AM.
15 or 15+ – programmes not recommended for teens and children below the age of 15, may contain more intensive violence and sexual content. May only air from 10 PM to 5 AM.
18 or 18+ – the programme is recommended for adult viewers (for ages 18 and up), may contain explicit violence and explicit sexual content. May only air from 11 PM to 5 AM.
Romania
The current Romanian rating symbols were adopted in September 2002, and are as follows:[64]
In this system, the rating symbols are as follows:
Unrated – programmes can be viewed by any age (generally news TV-programmes, mostly 24h news channels, reportages and documentaries with some exceptions. Most offensive and sensitive contents are censored during newscasts, exceptions are made when they are broadcast live and therefore sanctioned by the CNA).
AP – programmes are recommended for children with parental guidance, may not contain any violence or sexual content.
12 – programmes not recommended for children below the age of 12, May only air from 8 PM to 6 AM.
15 – programmes not recommended for teens and children below the age of 15, May only air from 10 PM to 5 AM.
18 – the programme is recommended for adult viewers (for ages 18 and up), May only air from 11 PM to 5 AM.
Russia
Russian rating system
The rating system for programmes and films shown on Russian television:[65]
0+ (Suitable for all ages)
6+ (May not be suitable for very young children)
12+ (Intended for viewers over the age of 12)
16+ (Intended for viewers over the age of 16)
18+ (Unsuitable for children, only for adults)
These logos are shown in the beginning of the programme and after every break.
Singapore
Singapore has adopted the use of TV Ratings from 21 October 2011. They consist of PG and PG13 ratings for Free-to-Air TV and NC16 and M18 ratings in addition to the PG and PG13 ratings for Pay TV channels. For Free-to-Air TV, the shows rated PG may be aired anytime while PG13 should air between 10pm to 6am. For Pay TV, PG13 rated programmes can be shown anytime. Before the rated programme starts the TV channels will show a notification. From now on, only StarHub TV's and Singtel TV's self-packaged non-regional Pay TV channels ( e.g. StarHub TV's E City and Sensasi and Singtel TV's FashionTV HD and FashionTV HD on Demand, both of which features modeling nudity in certain programmes ) are enabled to carry NC16 and M18 rated content. FashionTV is also Singapore's first official M18 rated channel. M18 rated programmes can only be telecasted from 10pm onwards to 6am on Pay TV. Regional channels like Fox Life, Fox Movies and HBO Asia are unable to carry Infocomm Media Development Authority's film ratings as they are targeted at the same region (a certain group of Asia territories), which results in programmes being subjected to external censorship of a much harsher nature outside Singapore territorial control. Only Video on Demand (VOD) Pay TV services are allowed to carry R21 content currently. G-rated programmes are not required to show a notification for any channel.
Slovakia
Slovakian government accepted a law in 2001 (updated in 2007), in which television stations are required to display one of the following icons during all the programme and in promos:[66][67][68]
7 – Content suitable for children over 7 years
12 – Content suitable for children over 12 years
15 – Content suitable for teens over 15 years, this programme may only be broadcast from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am[69]
18 – Content exclusively for adults, this programme may only be broadcast from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am[69]
Children's programming – Content created primarily for children up to 12 years
-7 – Educational content suitable for children up to 7 years
7+ – Educational content suitable for children over 7 years
12+ – Educational content suitable for children over 12 years
15+ – Educational content suitable for teens over 15 years, this programme may only be broadcast from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am[69]
For content suitable for all children, a green "U" icon is available, but broadcasters are not required to use it. Until 2007, all ratings went with faces: green smiley face – all viewers; orange sad face – suitable for 7, 12, 15 years and over; red very sad face – suitable for adults only. In 2024, rating were once again updated, this time at beginning of each programme and in promos, content descriptions were added to the programming:[70][71]
Violence
Discrimination
Fear/Horror
Drugs
Sex
Bad Language
Nudity
Slovenia
Slovenian government accepted a law in 2004,[72] in which television stations are required to play a voiceover and age icon warning, which has to be at least 10 seconds long before programmes, inappropriate for some audiences begin. Additionally, one of the following icons (a white rhombus with the age number) has to be displayed for the duration of the programme:[73]
VS (vodstvo staršev) – Parental guidance suggested for children under 12.
12 – Content suitable for children over the age of 12.
15 – Content suitable for teens over the age of 15.
18 – Content suitable for adults.
18+ – Not suitable for persons under 18, contains explicit sexual content, may only be broadcast on demand in television programmes and in on-demand audiovisual media services if those programmes are subject to mandatory restricted access for exclusively adults through an assigned PIN or equivalent protection system. Access must be locked by default, and the user must be able to set access to the program content, whereby only an adult who becomes acquainted with the purpose of technical protection and who is provided with detailed instructions on its use can be given permission to view (code, password).
18++ – Pornographic content/programmes which unlawfully depict violence. these programmes are subject to mandatory restricted access for the exclusive reaches of legal age through an assigned PIN or equivalent protection system. Access must be locked by default, and the user must be able to set access to the program content, whereby only an adult who becomes acquainted with the purpose of technical protection and who is provided with detailed instructions on its use can be given permission to view (code, password).
The original content rating icons (used before 2014)[74] were a red triangle with a stylised eye for content rated +15, while adult-only content used a red circle with a stylised eye.[75]
Sometimes, age rating symbols are accompanied by additional symbols, which are not shown on-screen and warn the audience of the type of inappropriate content:[76]
Violent content can be recognised by a white rhombus, containing two stick figures. One is laying on the floor while being beaten up by the other with a baseball bat.
Scary content contains a white rhombus with a stylised grey ghost figure.
Sexual content is recognised by a white rhombus, containing conjoined male and female sex symbols (circle with a cross, pointing downwards and a circle with an arrow, pointing upwards).
Programmes, containing dangerous scenes are equipped with a white rhombus, containing a crouching stick figure, trying to jump over a fence and an open fire.
If a programme includes discriminative scenes, a white rhombus, containing three stick figures, of which the middle one is white, while the other two are black is shown.
A white rhombus, containing a bottle, defaced with a stylised face warns of programming including drug and/or alcohol abuse scenes.
If there is usage of inappropriate or strong language in a show, a white rhombus, containing a speech bubble with a hash sign, ampersand ("and" sign) and an exclamation mark is seen.
Programmes, appropriate for all audiences do not have a rating.
The public broadcaster RTV Slovenija and most other broadcasters use three watersheds. 12+ rated content is shown between 8 PM and 5 AM, 15+ rated programmes are allowed between 10 PM and 5 AM, and adult-only content can be shown between midnight and 5 AM. Cartoons and children's programmes are screened until 7 PM.[77]
The South Korean television rating system has been in force since 2000, and it started with only four classifications which are All, 7, 13 and 19. In February 2001, all programmes except domestic dramas (which had been enforced since November 2002) has required to have a rating system. In 2007, rating 13 was replaced with 12 and the 15 ratings. Most programmes have to be rated, except the "exempt" rating below. Even if it qualifies for being exempt, a broadcaster may apply a rating.[79]
Example of Korean TV rating icons
All (모든 연령 시청가, Modeun yeollyeong sicheongga): This rating is for programming that is appropriate for all ages. Television programmes with this rating may contain some violence and/or some mild language. No adult content is allowed.
7 (7세 이상 시청가, Chilse isang sicheongga): This rating is for programming that is inappropriate for children under 7. Television programmes with this rating can contain mild violence, mild language and few romance.
12 (12세 이상 시청가, Sibise isang sicheongga): This rating is for programming that is inappropriate for children under 12. Television programmes with this rating may contain horror, some fantasy violence, some sexual content, little use of strong language, mild blood, and/or mild suggestive themes.
15 (15세 이상 시청가, Sibose isang sicheongga): This rating is for programming that is inappropriate for children under 15. TV shows with this rating may contain use of alcohol, more sexual content, mild violence or little strong violence, major blood or gore, and/or suggestive themes.
19 (19세 이상 시청가, Sipguse isang sicheongga): This rating is for programming that is inappropriate for children under 19. 19-rated programming is banned from airing during the hours of 7:00AM to 9:00AM, and 1:00PM to 10:00PM. (7:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Weekends and Public Holidays Only) Programmes that receive this rating will almost certainly have adult themes, sexual situations, strong language and disturbing scenes of violence.
Exempt (no icon or name): This rating is only for knowledge based game shows; lifestyle shows; documentary shows; news; current topic discussion shows; education/culture shows; sports that excludes MMA or other violent sports; and other programmes that the Korea Communications Standards Commission recognizes. Disclaimer or rating icons are not needed.
Rating icons may be transparent, and can be positioned either on the upper-left or upper-right corner of the screen. The icon has a size of at least 1/20 of the screen, and has black writing on a yellow circle with a white outline. These icons are shown for 30 seconds when the programme starts, and are shown again every 10 minutes, and when the programme resumes after commercial breaks. This does not apply to 19-rated programmes, where the icon must be visible throughout the entire programme. These regulations do not apply to the "All" rating, as it does not have an icon. A rating disclaimer is displayed on the start of the programme for five seconds stating "This programme is prohibited for children under the age of X, so parental accompaniment is required" (이 프로그램은 X세 미만의 어린이/청소년이 시청하기에 부적절하므로 보호자의 시청지도가 필요한 프로그램입니다, I peurogeuraemeun X-se mimanui eorini/cheongsonyeoni sicheonghagi-e bujeokjeolhameuro bohoja-ui sicheongjidoga piryohan peurogeuraemimnida.) for 7, 12, and 15 ratings. "All" and "19" ratings have a different disclaimer, which say "This programme is suitable for all ages" (이 프로그램은 모든 연령의 시청자가 시청할 수 있는 프로그램입니다, I peurogeuraemeun modeun yeollyeong-ui sicheongjaga sicheonghal su inneun peurogeuraemimnida.) and "This programme is prohibited for children under the age of 19" (이 프로그램은 19세 미만의 청소년이 시청하기에 부적절한 프로그램입니다, I peurogeuraemeun sipguse mimanui cheongsonyeoni sicheonghagi-e bujeokjeolhan peurogeuraemimnida.) respectively.
These ratings are used by all South Korean television broadcasters. Despite being intended for viewing outside of the country, KBS World also uses these ratings.
South Korean television ratings do not include content descriptors or advisories as they do in most other nations. The ratings are therefore used in a broader sense.
Spain
In Spain, between 1963 and 1985, a rhombus rating system was devised by the Censorship Committee of TVE and first applied on 1 May 1963. Initially it had two levels.
One rhombus (◊) – Not suitable for viewers under the age of 14. Before 1964, the age limit of this rating meant "16 years".
Two rhombuses (◊◊) – Not suitable for viewers under the age of 18.
The two rhombuses appeared in the right upper corner of the screen, generally, at the start of the programmes.[80] From the 1970s, the two rhombuses included, occasionally, a warning tone which is still used as of currently.
With the fall of the Francoist regime, the censorship and the control of television programmes relaxed, but the two rhombuses still existed to classify certain films and series, especially the ones with erotic, violent or horror content. Eventually, in 1984 every class of regulation clode was eliminated except for the newscasts and the midnight film section aired on Fridays at 00:35 in TVE1 and the newcasts a year later (1985).[81]
Since 1984, except for midnight movies until 1985 and in some series which were aired at the time of the "rhombuses", in none of the two TVE channels had any kind of content regulation code through the two rhombuses anymore and the responsibility was at discretion of the parents, who were in charge to decide which programmes and which films their children would watch or not. At the same time, TVE made an effort to improve its programmation quality, removing controversial programmes of specific timeslots and adding more children's programmation.
However, between 1984 and 1996 there was not a lack of a regulation code; the Andalusian regional broadcaster Canal Sur was the only network to retain the two rhombuses system, since its inception in 1989 until 1992.[82]
During the Francoist era and later, the "rhombuses" system had a great influence in the choice of which programmes to watch in family. Since the fall of the Francoist regime, the symbol lost gradually its importance and thus, it was done away with. Currently, although there is a content regulation code with rhombuses, it did not have the same influence as its predecessor.
There is also an influence of said symbol in the Spanish popular language, as something is said to be "de dos rombos" ("of two rhombuses") when it has erotic, violent or off-colour content.
In 1990, with the rise of private television channels, along with the lack of control and controversy created with programmes such as ¡Ay, qué calor! (which was a Spanish version of the Italian game show Colpo grosso) and Tutti Frutti, which aired on Telecinco, a new rating code was created in 1995, but it was not firmly materialized until 1996, which could be reflected in which, for instance, until the summer of that year, instead of the "13" rating, there was the "12" rating, which was retired until 2013. It was at that time when the current classification system was defined.
Until 2011, these icons only were shown at the beginning of the programme. Currently, these are shown during the entire shows.
(Especialmente recomendada para la infancia). Specially recommended for younger children. Only some channels use this rating, and each has its design (Clan TVE use the words "ERI" (they formerly used a baby icon or a teddy bear icon) inside a purple block and Canal Panda uses a small purple banner).
(Todos los públicos). For general viewing.
or +7: Not recommended for viewers under the age of 7. It is yellow in Televisió de Catalunya and formerly in Televisión Española. ( until 2012, the icon had yellow background, between 2005 and 2009 the icon was green on TVE).
or +10: Not recommended for viewers under the age of 10. Only exists in Catalan television.
or +12: Not recommended for viewers under the age of 12.
or +13: Not recommended for viewers under the age of 13. It was formerly used in national channels.Although, is worth noting that it is used today by some networks and by Amazon Prime Video as well. It is official in Catalonia, where is used in place of the +12 ratings, although Televisió de Catalunya uses both.
or +16: Not recommended for viewers under the age of 16. ( until July 2015, the icon background was yellow with black lettering, this icon is still used in Catalonia ).
or +18: Not recommended for viewers under the age of 18. A warning tone can be heard when the programme starts. These programmes cannot be shown on free to air television before 10 PM and after 6 AM.
Unrated programmes do not display any icon on the screen; in Catalonia, TP-rated shows do not show any icon as well. Nowadays rating symbols are shown during all the programme and in promos; each channel has its right to choose its design and where it has to be placed. The "Infantil" rating it's the exception, because it appears during the first five seconds. In Catalonia, only the 13, 16 and 18 ratings remain transparent in the screen, while the others (7, 10 and 12) are seen during the first 30 seconds.
Taiwan
Taiwanese rating system
Taiwanese rating system for television programmes was introduced on 1 January 1999 with four symbols represented with four Chinese characters 普 for General, 護 for Protected, 輔 for Parental Guidance and 限 for Restricted, but changed on 13 June 2017 to unify the television age rating with Taiwan's video game and motion picture ratings, and there are five symbols,
0+: 普遍級(普) (General level) : suitable for watching by general audiences.
Television programmes free of circumstances listed in the preceding four articles and suitable for watching by general audiences may be listed as G .
The images of news reports shall conform to the provisions of "G" rate.
6+: 保護級(護) (Protected level) : not suitable for viewing by children under the age of six; children over six and under the age of twelve can view if accompanied by parents, teacher or an adult relative.
Television programmes free of circumstances listed in the preceding three articles but portraying any one of the following circumstances shall be listed as P.
The portrayal of fighting, larceny, terror, abnormal social phenomenon.
The portrayal of sexual encounters or confused ethics and values.
Other content that has a detrimental influence on the behaviour or psychology wellbeing of children under the age of six.
12+: 輔導十二歲級(輔12) (Parental Guidance-12 level) : not suitable for viewing by children under the age of twelve, split from the former rating Parental Guidance.
Television programmes free of circumstances listed in the preceding two articles but portraying any one of the following circumstances shall be listed as PG-12.
Plots or dialogues that portray crime, violence, terror, blood, abnormality, strangeness or social deformity or other phenomenon, the portrayal of which is slight.
Content that uses action, images, language, words, dialogue or audio to portray slight sexual expression or sexual implication.
Other circumstances having detrimental influence on the behaviour or psychology wellbeing children under the age of twelve.
15+: 輔導十五歲級(輔15) (Parental Guidance-15 level) : not suitable for viewing by people under the age of fifteen, split from the former rating Parental Guidance.
Television programmes free of circumstances listed in Article 4 but portraying any one of the following circumstances shall be listed as PG-15.
Plots or dialogues that portray crime, terror, blood, violence, abnormality, strangeness or social deformity or other phenomenon, the portrayal of which is not slight but do not cause a sadistic impression or excessive panic.
Content that uses action, images, language, words, dialogue or audio to represent sexual expression or sexual implication.
Other content that has a detrimental influence on the behaviour or psychology wellbeing of people under the age of fifteen.
18+: 限制級(限) (Restricted level) : not suitable for viewing by people under the age of eighteen.
Television programmes portraying any one of the following circumstances shall be listed as R and be broadcast by encryption.
Detailed portrayal of gambling, use or trafficking of drugs, robbery, kidnap, murder or other criminal behaviours, and detailed portrayal of the process of suicide.
Content that portrays terror, blood, atrocity, abnormality, etc., the portrayal of which is strong, but acceptable to people over the age of eighteen.
Content that uses action, images, language, words, dialogue or audio to portray obscenity or strong sexual implication, but is acceptable to people over the age of eighteen.
Thailand
In Thailand, a television rating system was introduced in 2006 alongside a movie rating system for movies. In September 2013, the television rating was revised.
Under the new guideline, the so-called 'Free TV' channels have to label their programmes and reschedule their shows to comply in the following categories:
Preschool (ป) – content suitable for preschool-aged children
Children (ด) – content suitable for children between 6–12 years old
General (ท) – content suitable for general audiences
PG 13 (น๑๓) – content suitable for people aged 13 and above, but can be watched by those who are under the recommended age if parental guidance is provided. Under this category, the content can be shown on television between 8:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
PG 18 (น๑๘) – content suitable for people aged above 18 years old; those who are younger than 18 must be provided with parental guidance. The programmes can be shown on television between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Adults (ฉ) – content unsuitable for children and youngsters aged 19 or under, and can be viewed on TV only between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
TV programmes in Thailand are already labeled by a certain system of categories, a practice criticised by rights group as nanny-state censorship and ridiculed by some Netizens for its confusing standards.
Turkey
The TV content rating system in Turkey was introduced by RTÜK in 2006. The ratings are the following:[83]
Genel İzleyici – General audience. Suitable for all ages. Shown (family symbol) at the beginning of the programme/movie and after every commercial break.
7+ – Suitable for ages 7 and over. Shown at the beginning of the programme/movie and after every commercial break.
13+ – Suitable for ages 13 and over. Shown for the whole duration of the programme/movie (may be translucent). May only be broadcast between 9:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
18+ – Suitable for ages 18 and over. Shown for the whole duration of the programme/movie (may be translucent). May only be broadcast between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Şiddet ve/veya Korku – Violence and/or horror
Cinsellik – Sexuality
Olumsuz Örnek Oluşturabilecek Davranışlar – Negative examples
News programmes, sports competitions, religious ceremonies and commercial communication broadcasts are exempt from the content rating system.
Ukraine
The Ukrainian TV content rating system was adopted on 15 September 2003. It started with three classifications (●, ▲, ■). On 6 May 2016, the classifications were replaced, and TV shows that do not have age restrictions are not rated. The new ratings are as follows:
12+: Programme contains content that may require parental guidance for children under 12.
16+: Programme contains content that may require parental guidance for children under 16.
18+: Programme is only for viewers aged 18 and over. In it there are scenes containing nudity, drug use, or violence. These programmes may only be broadcast late at night (10 p.m.–6 a.m.).
These designations must be displayed on the lower right corner of the television screen.
The TV parental guidelines were first proposed on December 19, 1996, as a voluntary-participation system—in which ratings are determined by participating broadcast and cable networks—by the United States Congress, the television industry and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and went into effect by January 1, 1997, on most major broadcast and cable networks in response to concerns from parents and advocacy groups[84] regarding increasingly explicit sexual content, graphic violence and strong profanity in American television programming, and was designed to be used in conjunction with the V-chip, which the U.S. government had mandated to be built into all television sets manufactured from 2000 onward (and the vast majority of cable/satellite set-top boxes). The system—which is used for, including but not limited to, most television series, specials, made-for-television films, and theatrically released films re-edited for broadcast or basic cable telecast—has since been applied to internet-based television services (such as Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix), digital video retailers (such as Apple's iTunes Store and Google Play) and digital media players (such as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku). The guidelines are not assigned to sports or news programmes nor are they used during commercial advertisements, outside of promotional ads for network programmes.
The rating icons are required to be shown for 15 seconds at the start of each program, although since June 2005, many advertiser-supported network broadcasters and some syndication divisions also display the assigned rating for that particular programme after each commercial break; for networks and syndicators that continue to run the rating icon once per hour during a programme running longer than 60 minutes, the broadcaster may show the rating again during a segment/scene that starts closest to the top of the next clock hour. Premium channels—in addition to applying them to any offered original programming—may assign Parental Guideline ratings for theatrical or home video-released movies that either did not receive a Motion Picture Association-assigned rating or were aired as an "unrated" cut, which is an exempt.
TV-Y – All Children: This program is designed to be appropriate for all children, including children from ages 2-6.[85]
Designed to be appropriate for children of all ages. The thematic elements portrayed in programmes with this rating are specifically designed for a very young audience.
TV-Y7 – Directed to Older Children: This program is designed for children age 7 and above.[85]
Designed for children age 7 and older. The FCC states that it "may be more appropriate for children who have acquired the developmental skills needed to distinguish between make-believe and reality".[85] The thematic elements portrayed in programmes with this rating contain mild fantasy and comedic violence.
Programs where fantasy violence may be more intense or more combative.[85]
Programmes given the "FV" content descriptor exhibit more 'fantasy violence'[85] and are generally more intense or combative than other programmes rated TV-Y7.
TV-G – General Audience: Most parents will find this program suitable for all ages.[85]
Programmes are generally suitable for all audiences, though they may not necessarily contain content of interest to children. The FCC states that "this rating does not signify a program designed specifically for children, [and] most parents may let younger children watch this program unattended".[86] The thematic elements portrayed in programmes with this rating contain little or no violence, mild language, and little or no sexual dialogue or situations.[86]
TV-PG – Parental Guidance Suggested: This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children.[85]
Programmes may contain some material that parents or guardians may find inappropriate for younger children. Programmes assigned a TV-PG rating may include infrequent coarse language, some sexual content, some suggestive dialogue, or moderate violence.
TV-14 – Parents Strongly Cautioned: This program contains material that most parents would find unsuitable for children under 14 years of age.[85]
Programmes contain material that parents or adult guardians may find unsuitable for children under the age of 14. The FCC warns that "parents are cautioned to exercise some care in monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 14 watch unattended".[85] Programmes with this rating contain intensely suggestive dialogue, strong coarse language, intense sexual situations or intense violence.[86]
TV-MA – Mature Audience Only: This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17.[85]
Contains content that may be unsuitable for children. This rating is rarely used by broadcast networks or local television stations, although it is commonly applied to television programmes featured on certain cable channels (basic and premium networks) and streaming networks for both mainstream and softcore programmes. Programmes with this rating may include crude indecent language, explicit sexual activity and graphic violence.[86]
Some thematic elements, according to the FCC, "may call for parental guidance and/or the program may contain one or more of the following" sub-ratings, designated with an alphabetic letter:[86]
FV – Fantasy violence (exclusive to TV-Y7-rated programmes)
Up to four content descriptors can be applied along with an applied rating, depending on the kind of suggestive content featured in a programme (with the exception of the "FV" sub-rating, due to its sole applicable use for children's programmes). As the rating increases pertaining to the age, the content matters generally get more intensive. The 'suggestive dialogue' descriptor is used for TV-PG and TV-14 rated programmes only, although certain networks may choose to rate their TV-MA programmes with the descriptor, while the DLSV sub-ratings are only used with the TV-PG and TV-14 ratings.
An additional content descriptor, "E/I", is applied to select TV-Y, TV-Y7, and TV-G programmes that are designed to meet the educational and informative needs of children aged 16 and under. A minimum of three hours of E/I-compliant programming must be broadcast per week by each television network; E/I programming must air between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. to count toward this minimum.
Content advisory ratings (premium cable and pay-per-view)
The American pay television industry uses a separate, unrelated content advisory system—used in conjunction with the TV Parental Guidelines and the Motion Picture Association rating system—that first went into effect on March 1, 1994, on participating cable-originated premium channels and pay-per-view services (led by the system's charter services, HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and The Movie Channel). Inspired by similar content guidelines that had already been included in the services’ monthly programme guides, the voluntary-participation system provides guidance to pay-cable subscribers on the suitability of a program for certain audiences based on its content.[87][88] Thematic material is rated based on a ten-code system, designated with a two- or three-letter abbreviation and corresponding descriptor:
AC – Adult Content
AL – Adult Language
GL – Graphic Language (exclusive to R/TV-MA-rated programmes)
Up to five content descriptors can be applied, alongside the corresponding rating, to an individual programme to advise viewers of content that may be inappropriate for minors, depending on age group, or for adults with particular sensitivities to certain kinds of mature content.[89][90]
Venezuela
Television content in Venezuela is regulated by the Law on Social Responsibility on Radio and Television (Ley de Responsabilidad Social en Radio y Televisión), introduced in January 2003. Free-to-air television broadcasters are required to classify their programmes using the following ratings:[91]
Todo usuario: Suitable for all ages.
Supervisado: Parental supervision recommended for children and teens (only allowed between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.).
Adulto: Suitable only for adults aged 18 or older (only allowed between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.).
It is mandatory for all Venezuelan television stations to broadcast a short presentation, before the broadcast of any programmes, made by the same channel, where the type of programme (recreational, informational, mixed, etc.), type of production (domestic or national independent) elements include containing (such as language, health, sex and/or violence) and lastly the rating of the programme.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, VOD and Pay-TV content are subject to the same regulations used to classify films for the cinema.[92] The current ratings are:
P – Suitable for all ages.
K – Should not be viewed by persons under 13 years old unless they are with their parents or guardians.
T13 – Should not be viewed by persons under age 13.
T16 – Should not be viewed by persons under age 16.
T18 – Should not be viewed by persons under age 18.
^"Símbolos de autoclassificação". Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
^Until December 2012, the pictogram Déconseillé aux moins de 10 ans used to disappear after a few minutes. It now remains on screen for the duration of the programme. DecisionArchived 10 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine from the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel. (in French)
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