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Guest Commentary: August 20, 2001
TV Networks Increase Violence, Vulgarity
and Profanity During Family Hour
The Honorable Sam Brownback
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The family hour has historically offered a safe haven for families - a time where parents knew that it was all right to allow their children to watch television.
Unfortunately, that time has come and gone.
According to research conducted by the Parents Television Council, the family hour is on deathwatch. For the last several years, the amount of violence, vulgarity and profanity in supposedly "family-hour" programming has skyrocketed. Last year, the Parents Television Council reported that the amount of violence and vulgarity had almost doubled during the so-called 'family hour'(8:00-9:00 p.m.).
This year, they report that profanity has jumped 78 percent, and the amount of violence has risen 70 percent.
At some point, you have to ask: How much worse can it get? How low can it go? Unfortunately, it appears that the networks are scrambling to find out.
The losers here are America's families, and America's children. According to the Television Bureau of Advertising, the average child watches more than 3 hours of TV a day - and one of those hours is usually the family hour.
By the time that child has reached the age of 18, he or she has seen 13,000 killings and 100,000 violent acts. The incidence of vulgarity and profanity are even higher. In the hundreds of studies conducted on the influence of television, virtually all of them concluded that what we watch on television has an impact on our attitudes, our thoughts, and ultimately, our behavior.
Given the state of network programming, this is a frightening prospect.
One of the many useful services this report provides is that it lists the finishers in the race to the bottom. There are significant differences among the networks in the levels of violence and vulgarity.
For example, this is the second year in a row that CBS had far less violence, vulgarity and profanity than any of the other networks, and for that, I commend them.
UPN was the worst offender, with almost twice as many instances of violence and vulgarity as the second place finisher in the race to the bottom, NBC. To both of those networks, I extend my appeal to reconsider their approach to family hour programming. Surely, there are better ways to make a buck than by cramming as many lewd and violent acts or references into family entertainment as possible.
TV is the chief purveyor of our nation's stories. The content of those stories, and the quality of those programs, helps shape the imagination, attitudes, and assumptions of the next generation. It is a tremendous power, and one that ought to be exercised responsibly.
I appeal to the networks to use their influence in ways that support parents, edify families, and wholesomely entertain children. Reinstating the family hour is a small step down that road. Surely an hour-long respite from a steady stream of violence and vulgarity is not too much to ask.
Note: The above commentary is adpated from a statement Senator Brownback delivered at a Capitol Hill news conference on August 1, 2001.
 How to contact Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Reading a past guest commentary? Click here for the most current one.
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