The broadcasting and cable executives charged with creating the code by January are pushing a broad, age-based ratings system like the one used in the movie industry (graphic). But critics are adamant that any ratings system should explicitly state the level of violence, sex and foul language in each show. Without that info, they say, parents are forced to guess which heinous things may have earned a program its rating. This will be crucial in 1998, when new TV sets will come with V-chips that allow parents to block shows by their code. Some, including Rep. Ed Markey, charge that the TV industry is keeping it vague because “advertisers won’t want their name to be associated with anything that has a V (for violence), S (for sex) or L (for language) attached to it.” Sen. Joseph Lieberman summed up the complaints about the broadcasters’ plan thusly: “They’ve produced a turkey.”

That may be, but this turkey is refusing to budge. Jack Valenti–the president of the Motion Picture Association of America, who is also leading the TV effort–defended the proposed six categories as “easy to understand,” and vowed they would not be revised. Valenti also warned that if anyone–including the FCC and Congress–tries to interfere, broadcasters will sue them “in a nanosecond.” What would you tell your kids about that?

The industry’s proposal to rate programming is expected to divide shows into the following six categories:

RATINGS FOR CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

Appropriate for all children.

Directed to children 7 and older. Some material–like mild comedic violence–might upset younger kids.

RATINGS FOR GENERAL-AUDIENCE PROGRAMS

Appropriate for audiences of all ages, containing little or no violence, strong language or sexual material.

Parental guidance suggested. Shows may contain some violence, sexual material or coarse language. Most sitcoms would earn this rating.

Parents might deem material–including more intense violence and sexual content–inappropriate for kids under 14. Think “NYPD Blue.”

Not for children under 17. Shows may contain explicit sexual material, profane language or graphic violence.