Broadcasters have promised the FCC that they will, among other commitments, provide children's educational programming. In exchange, the FCC gave broadcasters free use of the airwaves, estimated to be a $40-70 billion value. However, broadcasters have not delivered on their promise.

NOW Foundation reviewed all educational programs aired by Los Angeles, CA television stations and found that 77% were male-led and only 10% had females in a starring role. In addition, a survey of 50 G-rated cartoon films found that two-thirds of them showed characters drinking alcoholic beverages or smoking, without combining it with anti-drinking or anti-smoking messages.

Congress has passed legislation requiring broadcasters to air educational programming for children; however, the law is so vague that shows like Wheel of Fortune 2000 continue to be passed off as educational. NOW Foundation and a coalition of organizations are asking the FCC to demand specific minimum standards for broadcasters: 

• Set aside at least seven hours each week to provide quality educational programs or significant educational services (such as data transmission for schools) for students of all ages 
• A maximum of four commercials, no more than sixty seconds each, per hour during children's programs.

HISTORY

In 1990, Congress enacted the Children's Television Act which called for more educational children's shows and for the needs of children to be addressed by each station's overall programming. In 1996, new guidelines were added for over-the-air commercial broadcasters (those who use the airwaves for free; cable stations do not use the spectrum).

The FCC defined "core" programming as "any television programming that furthers the educational and informational needs of children 16 years and under in any respect, including children's intellectual/cognitive or social/emotional needs." Each program must be at least 30 minutes in length and be regularly aired between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Stations must air three hours of educational and informative, or "core," programming each week (approximately 2% of the weekly air time); the decision of which programs are educational is left up to the stations, not the FCC.

Stations must use some kind of identifying icon on the air to announce which programs it considers to be educational/informative. However, they have no obligation to explain to the public what this icon means.

Stations must supply to publications printing TV listings a list of these programs. However, many newspapers and TV guides do not publish this identification.

Stations must designate a public information person at their station; this person is responsible for keeping on file the quarterly and yearly reports on children's programming and making it available upon request.

Perpetrators of violent acts on television go unpunished 73% of the time. 

Forty-seven percent of all violent interactions showed no resulting harm to the victims, and 58% depicted no pain.

Each year, the average child sees 30,000 TV commercials. By age 65, the average person in this country will have seen 2,000,000 TV commercials.

In a recent count, there were 202 ads aired for "junk food" during the four hours of Saturday morning cartoons.