Under pressure from the White House, the television industry is expected to announce this week that it will revise its controversial age-based ratings system to include information on language, sex and violence.
The announcement will most likely be made at a White House meeting late this week or early next week depending on President Clinton's schedule, according to industry sources.
The ratings system, which was designed by Hollywood lobbyist Jack Valenti, has been under fire from parents' groups, educators and members of Congress since its introduction in January. At that time, Clinton acknowledged the complaints but urged critics to give the plan a trial run of at least a year.
But, after only five months, the administration has reportedly had enough of the Valenti system that allows television executives to decide the age group for which a program is appropriate and to include only that information.
The new system is expected to include L, S and V designations based on levels of adult language, sexual content and violence in the programs.
Pub Date: 6/16/97
