Cable Networks to Unveil Plan on Violent Programs

Threatened with regulation by Congress, the major U.S. cable networks will unveil a plan this morning to control portrayals of violence in their programming. Among the steps will be establishment of an outside monitor to report annually on the effort.

Tony Cox, president of the Showtime network, will make the announcement on Capitol Hill on behalf of the cable industry.

The move comes as efforts are under way in Congress to write legislation that would impose government curbs on television broadcasters and cable companies in an effort to protect children from graphic portrayals of violence.

Officials familiar with the cable plan said that it also includes an agreement to establish a rating system for violent programming, as well as endorsement of a new technology that would allow parents to keep violent programs from being broadcast in their homes. The plan, entitled “Voices Against Violence,” has been approved by board members of the National Cable Television Assn.

Executives of ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox networks also reportedly are preparing to announce an independent monitoring plan developed in closed-door negotiations with Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.), long an advocate of reducing violent programming on television. Officials said that the network monitoring system would be separate from that of the cable industry.

Simon had threatened to sponsor legislation to establish a federal agency to monitor violent programming if the networks were not able to agree on a system.

In congressional hearings last year, members of the House and Senate berated television broadcasters and cable operators for what they termed gratuitous portrayals of violence. Leading psychologists testified to a link between on-screen violence and violent crimes by young people.

As a result, executives pledged to clean up the industry. In July, the major TV networks announced that they would begin this fall using a parental advisory label for violent programs.

Three months later, Atty. Gen. Janet Reno added a stern warning from the Clinton Administration. Testifying before a Senate panel, Reno said that the television industry must voluntarily reduce violence or “government action will be imperative.”

She said that the parental advisory labels and establishment of industry standards to discourage gratuitous violence are “positive . . . but extremely small steps.”

Reno said that the Administration is prepared to support tough legislation to deal with the problem. Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.) has sponsored a bill to restrict violent programming to late-night hours. Other bills would require the Federal Communications Commission to issue periodic reports listing programs that contain the most violence as well as their commercial sponsors. They also would mandate on-screen warning labels and advance notification of violent content in TV listings and would seek to discourage the advertisement of violent programs during family shows.

The cable industry’s plan supports legislation by Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) for a blocking mechanism on TV sets, known as a V-chip, that parents could use to screen out violent programs.

The plan supported by the cable industry calls for a voluntary rating system that would “have the participation and support of the entire television industry, including the broadcast networks and independent stations.” However, some broadcast officials said last year that they were unlikely to agree to a ratings system and they have not supported the V-chip.

Officials said that the cable plan also calls for “responsible scheduling” to avoid airing violent programs during hours when children might be watching.