Parents Television Council
The Parents Television Council (PTC) is a US-based lobby group which aims to "restore television to its roots as an independent and socially responsible entertainment medium". Although ostensibly non-partisan, the group tends to be highly conservative and faith-based.
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History
The PTC was founded in 1995 by longtime conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III; its activities extend to evaluation and rating of broadcast TV programs according to a traffic-light system of Red, Amber and Green across four axes: Sex, Violence, Profanity and Overall; and the organisation of an effective lobbying machine.
In November of 2000 PTC and its parent organization, Media Research Center were sued by World Wrestling Entertainment. The lawsuit was settled out-of-court for $3.5 million in July of 2002. See Media Research Center for more details regarding the lawsuit.
Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy
PTC's prominence became evident after analysis of complaints to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) underlined in Congressional hearings into the Janet Jackson Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy, in which one of Jackson's breasts, covered only by a nipple-shield, was momentarily displayed on network television; FCC chairman Michael Powell stated that the number of indecency complaints to the FCC had risen from 350 in the years 2000 and 2001, to 14,000 in 2002 and 240,000 in 2003.
Mediaweek estimates that up to 99.8% of the complaints lodged with the FCC in 2003 were filed by or through the PTC; and discounting Janet Jackson related complaints, 99.9% are made by or through PTC. As a result there is some concern that a single issue activist group is exerting undue influence on the process of media regulation in the US.
The counterpart to the PTC in the UK is Mediawatch, an organisation apparently having a membership of some 40,000 people, but which has a much smaller impact than its American cousin.
Spicy BBQ Six Dollar Burger Controversy
In May 2005 Carl's Jr. introduced its "Spicy BBQ Six Dollar Burger" in a television advertisement, which features Hilton Hotel heiress and reality TV star Paris Hilton in a provocative swimsuit soaping up a Bentley automobile and crawling all over it before taking a big bite out of the burger.
The Parents Television Council, along with other media watchdog groups, has criticized the commercial. The research director for the PTC, Melissa Caldwell, says; "This commercial is basically soft-core porn. The way she moves, the way she puts her finger in her mouth - it's very suggestive and very titillating." The Los Angeles, California based group says they plan to mobilize their more than 1 million members to contact the restaurant chain and voice their concern.
Andy Puzder, CEO of Carl's Jr., says the group needs to "get a life...This isn't Janet Jackson -- there is no nipple in this. There is no nudity, there is no sex acts -- it's a beautiful model in a swimsuit washing a car." Puzder was referring to the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy.
In addition to featuring the ad on their web site, Carl's Jr. has also built a separate Web site to play a longer version of the commercial. A similar ad with Hilton for Hardee's hamburger chain (also owned by Carl's Jr. parent corporation CKE Restaurants) is expected to air June 2005.
Reference
- Activists Dominate Content Complaints - Mediaweek story on the PTC
- Carl's Jr. not sorry for SpicyBurger commercials
See also
- Media Research Center
- Mary Whitehouse, founder of the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, the forerunner of the UK's Mediawatch.
External links
- Parents Television Council website
- Disinfopedia entry on Parents Television Council
- Lone Activist Group Submits 99.8% of FCC Complaints - Slashdot story
- Carl's Jr. Spicy Burger website featuring Hilton commercial