Study Finds Improvement in Handling of On-Air Violence

Network television’s handling of violence within entertainment programming continued to improve last season, despite a disturbing rise in mayhem-laden “reality” specials, according to a report issued Tuesday by the UCLA Center for Communications Policy.

The third annual study, sponsored by the four major networks, found half as many prime-time network series raised frequent or occasional concerns about violence compared to the first survey in 1995. Just two of those eight programs--CBS’ “Walker, Texas Ranger” and NBC’s “Dark Skies”--fell into the “serious concerns” category, and the latter was canceled last year.

Despite a general decline in violent programming on the major networks, the study’s director, Jeffrey Cole, called the sharp increase in specials featuring real-life video--including “When Animals Attack,” “World’s Scariest Police Shootouts” and “Video Justice: Crime Caught on Tape”--an alarming trend, saying that while most network programs deal responsibly with violence, “reality-based specials do not.”

Fox, in particular, scored big ratings with such fare, and three of its regular series--”America’s Most Wanted,” “Millennium” and “The X-Files”--were among those cited as spurring at least occasional concern regarding violent content.

Fox Entertainment Group President Peter Roth said earlier this week regarding the specials that with all the quality programming on television there is “room for shows that are considered to be a little bit more commercial.” A network spokesman also pointed out that the “When Animals Attack” franchise has been phased out.

Two other programs cited in the 232-page study, ABC’s “High Incident” and Fox’s “Sliders,” have been canceled, though the latter will continue on the Sci-Fi Channel. CBS’ “Nash Bridges” also made the list, as did three series on the UPN and WB networks: the former’s “The Sentinel” and “The Burning Zone” (another cancellation victim), and the latter’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

Representatives of the major networks have consistently maintained they aren’t responsible for the vast majority of violence on television, pointing a finger at pay channels (which show uncut movies), cable networks and independent stations as the principal offenders.

Though primarily concerned with the major networks, those media were monitored, with more violence found on local TV stations. Eleven syndicated series sold directly to stations--including “Hercules, the Legendary Journeys,” “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Sinbad,” which often air in the afternoon or early evening when more children are apt to be watching--prompted concern, as did airing movies such as the “Death Wish” series.

Regarding the networks, Cole said, “To anyone who says we missed it, I’m willing to say, ‘Show me the violence.’ ”

The UCLA study differs from most others conducted on the topic by judging depictions contextually rather than counting violent acts. For that reason, programs deemed to deal with violence responsibly and displaying its consequences--including “NYPD Blue,” “Law & Order” and “Homicide”--won praise and did not raise concerns.

By contrast, a 1996 study counting acts of violence, commissioned by the cable television industry, deemed 44% of prime-time network shows to be violent, including some comedies. Less than 10% prompted significant concern in the UCLA study.

As in the past, the study had greater problems with movies broadcast on television. Three in 10 contained significant violence--an improvement compared to the 42% recorded in the first survey year but still representing “the most intense and disturbing violence on television.”

According to Cole, the networks appear for the most part to have taken to heart past recommendations regarding violence in on-air promotion and even in advertising for theatrical films, another area mentioned as a major source of TV violence in 1995.

Researchers found no change in how many Saturday morning children’s programs contain what they have dubbed “sinister combat violence”--encompassing such series as “Power Rangers” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”--adding that such fare remains a relatively small part of the network lineups.

The networks commissioned the UCLA study specifically to forestall the imposition of a content-based ratings system but later adopted parental guidelines anyway, fearing reprisals from Congress in regard to such matters as digital television and broadcast licenses.

UCLA’s role has thus in a sense been rendered somewhat moot, given that the networks lost the political battle over ratings and the V-chip--a device viewers will be able to use to block programming. Still, the survey does provide an independent review of television outlets, which (unlike the independent board employed by the film industry) rate their own programs.

Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), who championed V-chip legislation, said the monitoring effort “continues to reinforce the wisdom of empowering parents to make decisions about televised violence in the home, which broadcasters and cable companies are still making for them in New York and Hollywood.”

The networks will still sponsor a UCLA monitoring program, but future surveys won’t be solely dedicated to violence; rather, the study will widen to explore general issues regarding television, including its content.

“We’re burned out on violence,” Cole said. “The broadcasters were willing to continue, and we just didn’t want to continue in that way.”