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Parents Rejoice; DIRECTV Is First To Deliver Easy-To-Understand On-Screen TV Ratings From Common Sense Media
Parents Can Now Make Kid-Friendly Programming Choices with Common Sense Media on DIRECTV


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. & SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 24, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- This spring, parents across the country can turn to DIRECTV, the first video distributor to offer Common Sense Media's age-based content reviews on its TV programming guide. This service provides parents with easy access to detailed, age-based information and reviews so they can make the right programming choices for their families.

DIRECTV and Common Sense Media have been making kid-friendly ratings information available on directv.com, since early last year. Now, DIRECTV customers will be able to easily access this important information on the electronic program guide by simply clicking the "info" button on their remote control. At this critical point of decision, parents will have access to Common Sense Media's helpful information on the program's violence, sexual content, positive messages, topics for family discussion and more.

Based on childhood development criteria, Common Sense Media's age-based ratings system helps parents make decisions about which movies, video games, TV shows, Web sites, books, and music are right for their families. The Common Sense Media ratings information complements traditional ratings services by providing more detailed, easy-to-understand information.

"DIRECTV believes that finding appropriate TV choices for your kids should be simple and straightforward," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. "Common Sense Media reviews go well beyond the current TV ratings system and actually give parents the information to make decisions about the TV choices in their home. Not only does it give practical information about individual TV shows, but it also presents ideas of how to discuss the shows or movies with your kids. We're proud that DIRECTV is the first TV provider to deliver this service to its customers."

"We applaud DIRECTV for being the first to integrate our ratings into their on-screen guide," said Anne Zehren, president and COO of Common Sense Media. "We hope it will inspire other distributors to be proactive in helping parents determine what's appropriate for their kids right at the point of decision. Our goal at Common Sense is to empower parents with the tools and information they need to help kids get the best - and avoid the worst - of media and entertainment. DIRECTV has done a great job championing that mission."

Customers can continue to access ratings information on directv.com by clicking on a TV show or movie title on the directv.com programming guide and use the "Parental Ratings" tab to link directly to the Common Sense Media information. After reviewing the ratings, parents can use DIRECTV's DVR Scheduler by simply clicking on the "record to receiver" tab and scheduling the program to record on their DVR at home - only at directv.com.

DIRECTV, the world's most popular television service, and Common Sense Media, the nation's leading nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving families' experiences with media and entertainment, formed a partnership early last year that is helping millions of DIRECTV's customers find age-appropriate programming for their families.