How to Understand the TV Rating System: TV MA & More Explained

The TV Rating System is managed by the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board, a United States-based organization responsible for working with the FCC to set age-appropriate ratings for television programs.^{[1]
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Research source} If you're wondering what rating codes like TV-14, TV-PG, and TV-Y mean on TV, Netflix, and on other streaming apps, this guide contains all the information you'll need to make informed choices when it comes to what your children watch on TV.

What TV PG and Other TV Rating Codes Mean

TV-Y: Designed for all children
TV-Y7: Designed for children 7+
TV-Y7-FV: Designed for children 7+ (unless sensitive to fantasy violence)
TV-G: Suitable for all audiences (most parents find suitable for young children)
TV-PG: Parental guidance suggested (may be unsuitable for young children)
TV-14: Parents strongly cautioned (may be unsuitable for young children)
TV-MA: Mature audiences only (unsuitable for children under 17)

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TV-Y

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All Children When a program is rated TV-Y, that means it's appropriate for children of any age. These shows, whether animated or live action, are safe for children aged 6 or younger. According to the FCC, programs are “not expected to frighten younger children.”^{[2]
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Research source} ManyTV-Y shows are cartoons, but plenty of live-action and scripted educational shows also have this rating.
- The program may include: No additional content warnings.
- Examples: Bluey, The Teletubbies, Paw Patrol, Sesame Street, Peppa Pig

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TV-Y7

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Appropriate for Older Children The TV-Y7 rating means the show was designed for children ages 7 and older. The FCC says that it “may be more appropriate for children who have acquired the developmental skills needed to distinguish between make-believe and reality.”^{[3]
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Research source} The thematic elements in TV shows with this rating may include light comedic violence that may be frightening or confusing for children under the age of 7.^{[4]
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- The program may include: Mild fantasy, comedic violence
- Examples: Ducktales, Aladdin, SpongeBob SquarePants, Big City Greens, The Loud House, Gravity Falls

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TV-Y7-FV

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Directed to Older Children—Fantasy Violence TV-Y7-FV was added to the pantheon of TV ratings later to fulfill a niche role that parents were concerned about. It means that a program is appropriate for children ages 7 or older, unless the child is sensitive to animated violence. These programs won’t contain blood or serious gore, but characters may hit one another, fall, or be engaged in some other kind of animated violence.^{[5]
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- The program may include: Fantasy violence (FV)
- Examples: The Amazing World of Gumball, Avatar: The Last Airbender, One Piece, Dragon Ball Z, Teen Titans, The Powerpuff Girls, Yu-Gi-Oh!

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TV-G

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General Audiences Programs rated TV-G are generally suitable for children of all ages, although the program wasn’t made explicitly for kids. The FCC states that “most parents may let younger children watch this program unattended.”^{[6]
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Research source} The thematic elements portrayed in programs with this rating contain little or no violence, no strong language, and little or no sexual content. This TV rating is not as common as it was in the past, but currently, some TV shows may hold this rating. This rating is common with how-to, informational, and educational content, and some sitcoms.^{[7]
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- The program may include: Suggestive dialogue (D) or fantasy violence (FV).
- Examples: How It's Made, Planet Earth, Phineas and Ferb, Good Luck Charlie, Wheel of Fortune, Mickey Mouse Funhouse, Scooby Doo, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Henry Danger

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TV-PG

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Parental Guidance Suggested Programs rated TV-PG are considered safe for children in the company of an adult.^{[8]
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Research source} Parents and guardians may find TV-PG shows unsuitable for younger children. ^{[9]
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HealthyChildren.org
Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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- The program may include: Suggestive dialogue (D), language (L), sexual situations (S), and fantasy violence (FV).
- Examples: Garfield, Abbott Elementary, Skeleton Crew, Once Upon a Time, The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Dr. Who, The Legend of Korra

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TV-14

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Parents Strongly Cautioned Programs rated TV-14 may contain some material that parents and guardians may find unsuitable for children under the age of 14. Parents should exercise some care in monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 14 watch unattended.^{[10]
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- The program may include: Suggestive dialogue (D), language (L), sexual situations (S), violence (V), and fantasy violence (FV).
- Examples: Andor, Bob's Burgers, Stranger Things, Grey's Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, Arrow, The Office, Supernatural, Criminal Minds, Friends

7

TV-MA

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Mature Audiences Only Programs rated TV-MA are designed specifically to be viewed by adults, and parents may find such shows unsuitable for children under the age of 17. Before allowing a child under 17 to watch a show that's rated TV-MA, a parent should research and/or watch the show first to determine whether it's appropriate for their child to watch.
- The program may include: Graphic violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or crude indecent language (L). In fact, for a program to receive a TV-MA rating, it must contain one of these elements.
- Examples: The Sopranos, The White Lotus, Hacks, American Horror Story, Poker Face, Euphoria, The Walking Dead, Black Mirror, The Righteous Gemstones, Game of Thrones

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Movie Ratings

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The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Rating System is a little different than the TV rating system. In addition to helping parents determine if a movie is appropriate for a child of a certain age, movie ratings also dictate whether a child or teen is allowed to watch a movie in a theater. Here's what Rated PG, Rated PG-13, Rated R, and more mean in movie ratings:^{[11]
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- Rated G - General Audience (All Admitted)
  - G-rated movies are considered "for everyone," as they contain no adult language, nudity, sex, violence, drugs, or other content the rating board would consider offensive to children or parents.
- Rated PG - Parental Guidance Suggested (Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children)
  - In film, Rated PG indicates more mature themes and content that may call for more parental guidance, including some depictions of violence, light profanity, and brief nudity. There are no laws preventing children from watching a rated PG movie in a theater, though some theaters may not allow a child to watch without a parent or guardian.
- Rated PG-13 - Parents Strongly Cautioned (Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13)
  - A PG-13 movie may contain themes, violence, brief nudity, sensuality, language, and adult activities that go beyond a PG rating, but aren't considered "adult" enough to warrant an R rating. Unlike a movie that's rated PG, a PG-13 movie may depict drug use.^{[12]
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    HealthyChildren.org
    Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
    
    Go to source} Some movie theaters may require children to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, but it is not required by law.
- Rated R - Restricted (Children Under 17 Require an Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian)
  - Rated R means a movie contains adult material like graphic language, sex, violence, nudity, intense and/or persistent violence, and drug use. An adult may bring a child under 17 to an R-rated movie in a theater, but the film board does not recommend it.^{[13]
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- Rated NC-17 (No One 17 and Under Admitted)
  - Rated NC-17 means the film contains content that is only appropriate for adults. An NC-17 rating doesn't mean pornographic or obscene. Instead, a movie may receive an NC-17 rating based on violence, sex, drug abuse, or other adult behaviors most parents would consider off-limits to children. Adults are not permitted to bring children under 17 to view an NC-17-rated film in a theater.^{[14]
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Community Q&A

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What do the NR, AO, and TV-MA ratings signify?

Gabe Fletcher

Community Answer

You should know that 'AO' (Adults Only) usually indicates strong sexual content, graphic violence, or gore. 'NR' means Not Rated, suggesting the content has not been formally classified. 'TV-MA' is for Mature Audiences, akin to an R or AO rating, and signifies content unsuitable for viewers under 17.

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The letters below the rating refer to the content warning codes. These refer to specific elements you might want to look out for in a program.^{[15]
X
Trustworthy Source

Federal Communications Commission
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications

Go to source} The letters mean:
- D: Suggestive dialogue
- L: Coarse or crude language
- S: Sexual situations
- V: Violence
- FV: Fantasy violence
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TV ratings are not the same all over the world. In Canada, you'll find these TV ratings:^{[16]
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- E - Exempt
- C - Children
- C8 - Children 8+
- G - General
- PG - Parental Guidance
- 14+ - Ages 14 and older
- 18 + - Adults only
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Show More Tips

The letters below the rating refer to the content warning codes. These refer to specific elements you might want to look out for in a program.^{[15]
X
Trustworthy Source

Federal Communications Commission
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications

Go to source} The letters mean:
- D: Suggestive dialogue
- L: Coarse or crude language
- S: Sexual situations
- V: Violence
- FV: Fantasy violence
Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0