Britt Bennett, president of TVGuardian, clarified the intent of his service in a recent interview. “It’s a filter that allows viewers to watch the programming they want… without having to hear the language they don’t want.  That’s different from the V-chip, which just blocks out a program in its entirety if any one part of it is deemed unacceptable.”

Alas, while TVGuardian made headway several years ago with Sanyo, who agreed to license TVGuardian into almost their entire line of DVD players, most companies and cable networks have been hesitant to comply.

Asked why he isn’t getting more support from the television industry, Bennett explained, “The need is there.  The logic is there.  The business case is there.  We have proven time and time again that the companies who offer their customers a chance to filter out offensive language will have more customers, happier customers, and customers who’ll even pay extra for the feature.  Yet they have still refused.  Many of these top executives see the need for this technology personally, but can’t seem to make a convincing enough case for adding it when they present it to the higher echelons.

“I remember the vice president of one of America’s leading cable companies, after hearing our presentation—how over 40% of their customers were personally offended by the language in their programming—he leaned back in his chair and said, ‘Nope.  It’s just not a sexy feature.’  (I remember thinking, ‘Exactly!  That’s the whole point!’).”
 
“In the midst of these eight years of marketing, Sanyo stopped making TVG DVD players altogether, we ran out of set top boxes to produce, and DVD players with TVGuardian installed have become less and less.  So now, while the need to filter language has grown with each year, the ability for a family to go out and buy a TVGuardian to combat that has almost disappeared.

“But I’m happy to report two points of light on the horizon…The first is a major provider of pay TV—one of the most famous business names in the world, but I can’t share it yet, is on the verge of offering their customers the ability to filter language with TVGuardian.
 
“The other point of light is legislation undergoing review in Washington right now…The FCC is looking at advanced parental controls for television, this being potential good news for parents. However, a handful of powerful media companies and their Washington lobbyists are fighting to keep this advanced technology from you! 

“The FCC wants your comments on whether advanced parental control technology should be made available for filtering offensive content in TV programming and movies; whether viewed on TV, over the Internet, cable, satellite, DVD Players, Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, or other video devices...

“Millions of homes have already benefited from automatic foul language filtering technology which uses the existing hidden closed-captioning signal to detect and mute offensive language.  Unfortunately, FOUL LANGUAGE FILTERING TECHNOLOGY WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE AFTER THE SWITCH TO DIGITAL TELEVISION THIS SUMMER UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION.  

“Your voice needs to be heard! The software for this technology must be built into the cable/satellite boxes and TVs to work with HD televisions.  It is being offered to cable and satellite companies for free -- those who want to use it can pay a small fee for it -- and these companies have the ability to download the software into most existing cable/satellite boxes...still, the industry refuses to give families this individual control.

“You now have the power to gain control over the language that is heard on the TVs in your own home!  Government should not have to get involved -- cable and satellite companies should give parents the option of using these parenting tools just because it's good business.  This technology will even increase profits for them since filtering out language makes more TV shows and movies okay for family viewing.  Yet, a handful of powerful media companies are fighting to keep this technology from you.  Tell the FCC to let the free market work.  Tell the FCC to let you have a choice.

“Thousands like you have already posted their comments in support. Please post your personal comments at the FCC. Let the FCC know that you want foul language filtering technology on TV, cable, satellite and other devices that show TV programs and movie.