The use of foul language on television shows in the past five years has increased dramatically on nearly every network and in nearly every time slot — including the so-called “Family Hour” from 8 to 9 p.m. (ET) — according to a study by the Parents Television Council.
The report, released Sept. 15, examined all of the prime-time entertainment series on the major broadcast television networks spanning from the first two weeks of the 1998, 2000 and 2002 November sweeps periods. The report analyzes a total of 400 program hours.
Foul language, including curses or intensives, offensive epithets, scatological language, sexually suggestive or indecent language, and censored language increased by 94.8 percent during the Family Hour between 1998 and 2002.
During the 9 p.m. (ET) time slot, such language increased by 109.1 percent, though the smallest increase (38.7 percent) occurred during the last hour of prime time — the hour of programming when young children are least likely to be watching.
A few improvements
According to the study, Fox was the only broadcast network to display any real improvement in the use of profanity during the Family Hour, as profanity during that time slot decreased by 25 percent.
However, Fox’s improvement during the Family Hour was overshadowed by a 75.3 percent rise in foul language used during the second hour of prime time on the network.
The increase is foul language spread to all three major networks.
Offensive language on ABC decreased overall by 17 percent, although profanity increased during the Family Hour by 61.7 percent.
During the Family Hour on CBS, foul language increased by 471.3 percent and went up across the board on NBC in every time slot, the study said.
In addition to this, foul language used during the Family Hour on NBC increased 114.7 percent.
On UPN, offensive language increased by 104.7 percent during the Family Hour and 538 percent during the second hour of prime time.
The WB network, which targets teenagers, had a 188 percent increase in foul language during the 1998–2002 time period.
During the second hour of prime time on WB, such language increased 308.5 percent.
“It’s easy to be dismissive of foul language on TV, but it does have an impact,” the Parents Television Council said. “Ultimately, the entertainment industry needs to get serious about reducing the flood of vulgarity coming into the family home over the broadcast airwaves. Barring that, the [Federal Communications Commission] needs to get serious about enforcing broadcast decency laws and punishing broadcasters who violate those laws.” (BP)
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