| The Parents Television Council (PTC) has been a | | | | the PTC. The lawsuit was settled out-of-court for |
| watchdog of family values on television since it | | | | $3.5 million in July of 2002. The WWE also |
| was founded in 1995 by longtime political activist L. | | | | parodied the PTC on their show. |
| Brent Bozell III. It is a US-based nonprofit | | | | In 2004, PTC became firmly entrenched in the |
| organization which aims to "restore television to | | | | public eye for its activist role regarding complaints |
| its roots as an independent and socially responsible | | | | to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) |
| entertainment medium". The group's stance if | | | | about the Janet Jackson Super Bowl XXXVIII |
| officially nonpartisan in nature, but it is known for | | | | halftime show controversy. During this show, one |
| taking a conservative stand on sensitive matters. | | | | of Jackson's breasts, covered only by a |
| It has embarked on a number of highly-visible | | | | nipple-shield, was momentarily displayed on |
| undertakings, including cable choice for | | | | network television. FCC chairman Michael Powell |
| family-friendly networks, exposing advertisers | | | | later revealed that the number of indecency |
| that advertise on objectionable programming and | | | | complaints to the FCC had risen from 350 in the |
| calling attention to the disrespect of religion on | | | | years 2000 and 2001, to 14,000 in 2002 and |
| television. | | | | 240,000 in 2003. He said further that 20% of |
| The PTC is mainly involved in the evaluation and | | | | complaints lodged with the FCC in 2003 were filed |
| rating of TV programs as well as in educating | | | | by or through the PTC. Not counting Janet |
| media as to what constitutes acceptable and | | | | Jackson-related complaints, 99.8% pf all |
| unacceptable television fare as well as in organizing | | | | complaints were made by or through PTC. One |
| national advocacy efforts, when necessary. | | | | backlash from the prominence of these |
| Since its inception and because of the significant | | | | revelations is a growing concern in some sectors |
| role it portrays on television, the PTC has been | | | | that a single-issue activist group is exerting undue |
| involved in a number of controversies through the | | | | influence on the process of media regulation in the |
| years, including the following: | | | | US. |
| In November 2000, the World Wrestling | | | | In 2005, PTC and other media watchdog groups |
| Federation (now the World Wrestling | | | | criticized the Carl's Jr. commercial showing reality |
| Entertainment) sued PTC for false claims, libel, | | | | TV star Paris Hilton in a provocative swimsuit |
| slander, and other charges relating to a campaign | | | | soaping up a Bentley automobile and crawling all |
| which was used to raise funds for the Media | | | | over it before taking a big bite out of the burger. |
| Research Center, PTC's mother company, and | | | | |