The Parents Television Council (PTC) is a U.S.-based non-profit that opposes the broadcasting of "sex, violence and profanity on television and in other media". [1]

History

The PTC was founded in 1995 as a project of the conservative media watchdog group, the Media Research Center. In August 2000 the PTC was incorporated and the following year the two split to become two separate legal entities. In 2001 the PTC established its headquarters in Los Angeles. Brent Bozell, who founded the MRC, was president of both organisations. In January 2007 he resigned as President of the PTC but remains a member of the board of directors.[1]

Indecency Complaints

Mediaweek reported in December of 2004 that 99.8% of 240,000 complaints made to the FCC complaining about indecency in 2003 originated from members of the Parents Television Council. PTC members are primarily responsible for the over 1,500 percent increase in complaints since 2002 (~14,000 complaints) and the increase of over 65,000 percent since 2001 (~350 complaints). [2]

PTC Settles Case With the Wrestlers

In November of 2000, Media Research Center and Parents Television Council were sued by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) after using unauthorized footage of WWE in a fundraising video and falsely claiming that WWE was incidental in the murders of four children. [3] Additionally, PTC/MRC falsely claimed that various advertisers had pulled their sponsorship from the show. A federal judge reviewing the suit found that the advertisers in question had never sponsored WWE. The WWE alleged 13 instances of defamation, copyright infringement and interference with prospective business relations and sought $55 million in damages.

PTC/MRC moved to dismiss in June 2001, but the motion was rejected. In July of 2002, PTC settled with the WWE out of court for a sum of $3.5 million. [4] President Brent Bozell wrote in a lengthy public statement that "It was wrong to have stated or implied that the WWE or any of its programs caused these tragic deaths." [5]The apology was posted on the PTC website for a period of six months as part of the settlement agreement.

PTC Personnel

Board of Directors

Key Staff

Tim Winter, PTC President

Melissa Caldwell, Senior Director of Programs

Dan Isett, Director of Corporate and Government Affairs

Gavin McKiernan, National Grassroots Director

Funding

In 2005 the PTC, according to its unaudited financial report, had total revenue of just over $4.5 million. [6] (Pdf file).

The foundations that fund the PTC, based on the list in the group's 2005 annual report, are:

707 Wilshire Boulevard #2075

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Phone: 213.629.9255

Toll-Free: 800.882.6868

Fax:213.629.9254

Web: http://www.parentstv.org

Articles and Resources

Sources

Related SourceWatch Articles