IT'S TIME ADULTS STARTED TO WATCH CHILDREN'S TV; PARENTS MUST SEE THAT GUIDELINES ARE FOLLOWED.Byline: Barbara Bliss Osborn THE television networks are about to do something really helpful for parents. The problem is that most parents don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. anything about it. Starting in September, every broadcast TV station in the country is expected to provide three hours per week of ``educational and informational'' programming for kids under 16. For the first time ever, the Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission (FCC), independent executive agency of the U.S. government established in 1934 to regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest. insisted that stations set aside a specific amount of time for children's programming. So children this fall may actually have an opportunity to watch commercial TV shows that are designed to excite their brains and not to exploit their pocket change. But the crucial word in that last sentence is ``may.'' The FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. did not define what it means by ``educational and informational.'' The commission expects the public to make that judgment. That's why it's so important that parents, teachers and other concerned citizens know what's going on Verb 1. know what's going on - be well-informed be on the ball, be with it, know the score, know what's what know - know how to do or perform something; "She knows how to knit"; "Does your husband know how to cook?" . Although there are programs on the Saturday morning TV schedule that suggest innovative educational programming, other ostensibly os·ten·si·ble adj. Represented or appearing as such; ostensive: His ostensible purpose was charity, but his real goal was popularity. ``educational and informational'' programs might raise a parent's eyebrow. Is CBS' new Saturday morning show ``Wheel of Fortune 2000'' or NBC's ``NBA's Inside Sports'' really ``educational and informational?'' Since every television show from ``Mr. Rogers'' to ``Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. 90210'' teaches something, the real question is what should be designated as educational programming? While ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. , CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. , NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. and Fox are eager to justify their programs as educational, you have to wonder if ``Sports Illustrated for Kids'' or ``Saved By The Bell: The New Class'' make the grade. And the shows that are genuinely educational aren't likely to get much on-air promotion. When prime-time shows make a ton of money and Saturday morning series comparatively little, which shows are going to get precious promotion time? The network industry association, the National Association of Broadcasters, is leaping into this void with all the passion of a couch potato couch potato An Americanism for a sedentary person, usually ♂, whose predominant non-work activity consists in lying on a couch, watching TV. See Television intoxication 'syndrome.'. Cf Vigorous exercise. . The NAB has not published a brochure explaining the new rules and what they mean, as it did when the television-rating system was first introduced. To make matters worse, the media - at least until now - have dropped the ball on this story. In the pages of the nation's newspapers and on television news, the development of these new programs has been overshadowed by conflict over the television-rating system. But the new children's programming guidelines may well provide parents with tangible benefits far sooner than the rating system. The California Campaign for Kids TV is trying to educate parents in that state about what they should expect from the networks and what they can do if the networks fall short of those expectations. But the group can't do this job alone and can't do it for the whole country. By giving the television-rating system sustained attention, the nation's media critics and reporters made the ratings a topic of debate around the country. In the space of 24 hours, the network news made the face of Andrew Cunanan as familiar as President Clinton's. The news media and the networks have a chance to help revitalize the link between government policy, the people and the press. Will they take this responsibility seriously or will they dismiss it as kids' stuff? |
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