What Is TVGuardian?

Britt Bennett, president of TVGuardian, clarified the intent of his product 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.”

How Does It Work?

TVGuardian reads the closed captioning embedded in most forms of TV entertainment. The box now works on HDTV with HDMI support, it has expanded user selectable filter levels, improved accuracy, and TVGuardian is now available for rent as well as purchase.

Asked why it 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!’).”

TVGuardian has been upgraded

Rick Bray invented TVGuardian back in 1997, when the company first producing more than 400,000 units. Since then updates and alterations have been made in order to make the family-friendly tool more effective. These boxes now allow viewers to choose the level of language they want to allow into their homes – from Strict to Moderate to Tolerant to Off. Offensive phrases are then automatically muted and suitable replacements displayed via closed captioning.

TVGuardian works on HDTV with HDMI support, it has expanded user selectable filter levels, improved accuracy, and TVG is now available for rent as well as purchase.

Why You Should Have It

Why is it that we tolerate profanity and obscenity while being entertained? Finally you can do something about it. At least for your own family.

What TVG Won’t Do

TVG doesn't filter out scenes of sex, nudity or violence--it is best suited for movies whose main offense is objectionable language. (The TVG website now provides links to reviews that detail the content of movies.)

Don’t Have Kids? Why You Should Have It

Our public behavior and speech should indicate to others what we stand for. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). So why is it that we tolerate profanity and obscenity while being entertained? Well, because it’s been a part of the media every since the MPAA rating system replaced the more restrictive Motion Picture Code over four decades ago. We’ve all grown up with coarse and profane language in movies. We’re used to it. Admit it, we’ve become desensitized by its frequency.

For whatever reason, people now writing movies (generally) can’t express frustration without the f-bomb or anger without profaning God’s name. And the s-word has become their new “darn it.” And we Christians accept it by saying, “Oh, I don’t pay any attention to those words.” Yeah, right. What we’re really saying is, “I want to see this movie so I’ll put up with the objectionable language.”

Where To Learn More

For more information, go to the TVGuardian website: Or, call 1-800-298-5618.

TVGuardian isn’t an expense – it’s an investment.

Phil Boatwright is a consultant to TVGuardian and provides the TVGDAILY page on their website.