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#REDIRECT [[MTV#Influence and controversies]]
{{MTV}}
The [[United States|U.S.]] [[Cable television|cable]] [[television channel]] '''[[MTV]]''' ('''Music Television''') has been the subject of criticism for years. The choice of the channel to focus on non-music programming has also been contested relentlessly, demonstrating the channel's continued impact on popular culture.


{{R to section}}
==Early criticism==
As early as 1984, because of its visibility as a promotional tool for the [[recording industry]], MTV was accused of denigrating the importance of music in the [[music industry]], replacing it with a purely visual aesthetic, and putting equally popular but less image-centric or single-based acts at a distinct disadvantage. In 1983, ''[[Rolling Stone]]''' magazine writer [[Steven Levy]] wrote, "MTV's greatest achievement has been to coax rock & roll into the video arena where you can't distinguish between entertainment and the sales pitch." One musician who criticized MTV for these reasons was Jello Biafra of the [[Dead Kennedys]], with the song "[[M.T.V. − Get off the Air]]", from the album ''[[Frankenchrist]]''. Although it could be said MTV simply gave airtime to the most popular acts in a given country, it is also possible these acts became popular simply because of the exposure MTV gave them.

Since its inception, critics of MTV have claimed the channel's programming promotes bad behavior, including [[violence]] and [[recreational drug use]], to the youth of the United States by embracing the behaviors of certain [[celebrities]] who are not good role models.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Bozell
| first = L. Brent III
| authorlink = L. Brent Bozell III
| coauthors =
| title = ‘Merchants of Cool' Not So Hot
| work = [[Media Research Center|Mediaresearch.org]]
| publisher = [[Creators Syndicate]]
| date = 2001-03-01
| url = http://www.mediaresearch.org/BozellColumns/entertainmentcolumn/2001/col20010301.asp
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-07-18 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| last = Bozell
| first = L. Brent III
| authorlink = L. Brent Bozell III
| coauthors =
| title = Snapshots of MTV at 20
| work = [[Media Research Center|Mediaresearch.org]]
| publisher = [[Creators Syndicate]]
| date = 2001-07-26
| url = http://www.mediaresearch.org/BozellColumns/entertainmentcolumn/2001/col20010726.asp
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-07-18 }}</ref>

===Lack of videos starring black performers===
During MTV's first few years on the air, very few black artists were included in rotation on the channel. Those who were in MTV's rotation included [[Eddy Grant]], [[Tina Turner]] and [[Donna Summer]]. The very first non-white act played was UK band [[The Specials]], which featured an integrated line-up of white and black musicians and vocalists. The Specials' video "Rat Race" was played as the 58th video on the station's first day of broadcasting.

MTV rejected other black artists' videos, such as [[Rick James]]' "[[Super Freak]]", because they didn't fit the channel's rock dominated format at the time. The exclusion enraged James; he publicly advocated the addition of more black artists' videos on the channel. Singer [[David Bowie]] also questioned MTV's lack of black artists during an on-air interview with VJ [[Mark Goodman]] in 1983.

In 1983, pop singer [[Michael Jackson]] and his label, [[Epic Records|Epic]] had planned to present the [[music video]] for the song "[[Billie Jean]]" to the executives of MTV. Worried that MTV would not show the video, Jackson and [[CBS Records]] President [[Walter Yetnikoff]] informed MTV's president the cable channel would be required to play Jackson's video, or CBS would not allow it to play any of their white artists (most notably [[Ozzy Osbourne]] and [[Billy Joel]]), and would publicly denounce MTV as [[racist]]s.<ref>{{cite book|title=Tarnished Gold: The Record Industry Revisited |page=362 |first=R. Serge |last=Denisoff |coauthors=William L. Schurk |publisher=Transaction Publishers |year=1986 |isbn=9780887386183 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=JWdMOZGNOHUC&pg=PA362&lpg=PA362&dq=walter+yetnikoff+mtv+president+jackson+racist&source=web&ots=aIp3p2DW3i&sig=BMw8FJbnSiEs2a8kMwVtUM__yoc |accessdate=2008-10-25}}</ref>

MTV premiered Jackson's "Billie Jean" video on March 10, 1983.<ref name="Blender">asd</ref> Whether the Jackson/Yetnikoff ultimatum had anything to do with this has been disputed; amongst other accounts, <ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_14_110/ai_n16807343 |title=Why it took MTV so long to play black music videos |publisher=Jet |date=October 9, 2006 |accessdate=2008-11-15}}</ref>[[Les Garland]], co-founder and originator of MTV, VH1, and The Box, said that immediately after previewing the video "I called Bob ([[Bob Pittman|Pittman]], MTV co-founder) to tell him, 'I just saw the greatest video I've ever seen in my life. It is off the dial it's so good.' We added it that day. How (the myth) turned into a story literally blew our minds."<ref>{{citation|last=Bennett|first=Joy T.|title=Michael: The Thrill Is Back|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-171926249.html|work=Ebony|date=2007-12-01|accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref>

Soon enough, MTV was airing the video in heavy rotation, thus making Jackson the first black performer to find stardom on the network. Producer [[Quincy Jones]] has said of the early relationship between Jackson and MTV: "...they rode each other to glory". Soon after, other black artists had videos on MTV, including [[Prince (artist)|Prince]], [[The Pointer Sisters]], [[Rick James]], [[Lionel Richie]], [[Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five]], [[Diana Ross]], and [[Run-DMC]].

==Censorship==
{{main|Censorship on MTV}}
===Political correctness===
MTV came under criticism for being too [[politically correct]] and sensitive when it came to [[censorship]]. This was most prevalent in the eventual decline of the hit show ''[[Jackass (TV series)|Jackass]]''. The creators of ''Jackass'' often felt that MTV's producers did not let the show run its free course due to the excessive restraints placed on the Jackass team.

MTV's influence also affected its famous animated program, ''[[Beavis and Butt-Head]]''. In the wake of controversy that followed a child burning down his house after allegedly watching the show, "producers moved the show from its original 7 p.m. time slot to a late-night, 11 p.m. slot. Also, Beavis' tendency to flick a lighter and scream the word "[[Pyromania|fire]]" was removed from new episodes, and controversial scenes were removed from existing episodes before rebroadcast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvacres.com/censorship_beavis.htm|title=Censorship & Scandals: Beavis & Butt-head}}</ref> Some of the edits were so extensive that when series creator [[Mike Judge]] compiled his [[Beavis and Butt-head: The Mike Judge Collection|Collection DVDs]] he found out that "some of those episodes may not even exist actually in their original form".<ref>{{cite video| people = [[Mike Judge]]| year = 2005| title = [[Beavis and Butt-head: The Mike Judge Collection#Volume 1|Beavis and Butt-head: The Mike Judge Collection Volume 1]] Taint to Greatness the Journey of Beavis and Butt-head (Part 1)| format = [[DVD]]| accessdate = 2007-03-01}}</ref>

The [[Parents Television Council]] has argued that much of the censored material on MTV can be easily discernible because of the context within where the material in question has been presented.<ref name="smut"/><ref>{{cite press release
| title = I Want My Foul TV
| publisher = [[Parents Television Council]]
| date = 2005-08-11
| url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/release/2005/0811.asp
| accessdate = 2006-04-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Kuhn | first = Katherine | title = So You Think You Can Rate a TV Show? - "The Hills" | publisher = Parents Television Council |date=2007-09-07 | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/ratings/0907.asp | accessdate = 2007-09-14}}</ref>

===Religion and race===
In the 1980s, parent-media watchdog groups such as the [[PMRC]] criticized MTV over certain music videos that were claimed to have explicit imagery of [[satanism]]. MTV has developed a strict policy on refusal to air videos that may depict devil worship or anti-religious bigotry.<ref name="censorthis">{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/fireace_00/mtv.html?200711?200721 |title=Today, everyone wants their MTV |publisher=Censor This|date= |accessdate=2008-10-25}}</ref> This led MTV to ban the videos for "[[Jesus Christ Pose]]" by [[Soundgarden]]<ref name="jcp">Prato, Greg. [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:3vftxxrsldse "Jesus Christ Pose" review]. [[Allmusic]]</ref> and "[[Megalomaniac (song)|Megalomaniac]]" by [[Incubus (band)|Incubus]].<ref name="attack fcc">Cave, Damien. [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5937141/mtv_under_attack_by_fcc MTV Under Attack by FCC]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'': February 23, 2004</ref>

Usually, all ethnic and racial slurs are censored on MTV music videos<ref>[http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/mtv2005/MTV_Report.pdf MTV Smut Peddlers], pp. 6, 8. The report mentioned that "[[nigga]]" was censored out of the videos "[[Freak a Leek]]" by [[Petey Pablo]] (p. 6) and "[[My Band]]" by [[D12]]. (p. 8).</ref> and programming.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/campaigns/MTV/makingtheband.htm |title=Making the Band 2 Episode Summaries |publisher=ParentsTV.org |date= |accessdate=2008-10-25}}</ref> MTV has emphasized racial tolerance and diversity awareness for people of all races and creeds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/features/discrimination/racism/ |title=think - Discrimination -> Racism |publisher=MTV |date= |accessdate=2008-10-25}}</ref>

===Censored music videos===
MTV has also heavily edited a number of music videos to remove references to [[drugs]],<ref name="smut">{{cite paper | last = Williams | first = Casey | title = MTV Smut Peddlers: Targeting Kids with Sex, Drugs, and Alcohol | publisher = [[Parents Television Council]]
| date = 2005-02-01 | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/mtv2005/MTV_Report.pdf | format = PDF
| accessdate = 2008-01-11 }} p. 8. In this case, a reference to [[crack cocaine]] was removed from the video for "[[My Band]]" by [[D12]].</ref> [[sexual behavior|sex]], [[violence]], [[weapons]], [[religion]] in any form, [[racism]], [[homophobia]] (but also [[homosexuality]]), or [[advertising]].<ref>{{cite book
| last = Nuzum
| first = Eric
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = [[Parental Advisory: Music Censorship in America]]
| publisher = [[HarperCollins]]
| year = 2001
| location =
| pages = 91–92
| url =
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 0688167721}}</ref>

This censorship has led to MTV rarely playing any metal videos except on Headbangers' Ball, which has been moved to MTV2.

==Lack of music videos==
By the second half of the 1990s, MTV's programming consisted primarily of non-music shows. In 1997, MTV was being heavily criticized for not playing as many music videos as it had in the past. In response, MTV created four shows that centered around music videos: ''[[MTV Live]]'', ''[[Total Request]]'', ''[[Say What?]]'', and ''[[12 Angry Viewers]]''. Also at this time, MTV introduced its new studios in [[Times Square]].

A year later, in 1998, MTV merged ''Total Request'' and ''MTV Live'' into a live daily top ten countdown show, ''[[Total Request Live]]'', which would become the channel's unofficial [[flagship]] program. In 1999, MTV shifted its focus to prank/comedic shows such as ''[[The Tom Green Show]]'', ''[[Jackass (television series)|Jackass]]'', and ''[[Punk'd]]''; and soap operas such as ''[[Undressed (TV series)|Undressed]]''.

For a while, MTV's main source of music video programming was ''[[Total Request Live]]'', airing four times per week, still receiving heavy criticism for regularly showing very short clips of the actual videos in favor of heavily featuring VJs and daily guests. Now that even TRL is over, people are already nostalgic about the MTV that started 27 years ago.<ref>{{cite news |first=Shawn |last=Amos |url=http://www.getback.com/story/mtv-s-first-day-was-mtv-s-best-day/3010621 |title=MTV's First Day Was MTV's Best Day |publisher=GetBack |date=2008-09-24 |accessdate=2008-11-15}}</ref> A [[hip-hop]] music video show, ''Sucker Free'', also airs regularly. On most days, music video rotation continues in the early morning hours.<ref name="mtvweekly">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/onair/schedule/mtv/weekly.jhtml |title=On-Air - MTV Week at a Glance |publisher=MTV |year=2007 |accessdate=2008-10-25}}</ref> Throughout the day, MTV shows excerpts from [[music videos]], usually the [[hook (music)|hook]], in [[split screen (film)|split screen]] format during the [[closing credits]], along with the web address of the MTV web site to encourage the viewer to view the complete video online. In the last half of 2007, MTV has scaled back rotation of full-length music videos usually to 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays but still shows the "condensed" videos during closing credits, as done for all non-music programs on MTV. After that time, MTV stopped showing full music videos.

In early 2008 MTV announced that it would premiere a new show that would focus on more music videos and live performances. ''[[FNMTV]]'', hosted by [[Pete Wentz]] of [[Fall Out Boy]], premiered Friday June 13, [[2008 in television|2008]] at 8 p.m. ET/PT.<ref name=Popcrunch>{{cite web|url=http://www.popcrunch.com/pete-wentz-mtv-fn-mtv-premiere-june-13th/ |title=Pete Wentz MTV “F’N MTV” Premiere June 13th |author=Castina |publisher=PopCrunch |date=May 28, 2008 |accessdate=2008-10-26}}</ref> The debut episode featured video premieres from [[Flo Rida]], [[The Pussycat Dolls]], [[The Ting Tings]], and [[Snoop Dogg]].

===Reality shows===
{{further|[[List of programs broadcast by MTV#Reality series|List of MTV shows: Reality series]]}}
In the early 2000s, MTV put a stronger focus on [[reality shows]], building on the success of ''[[The Real World]]'' and ''[[Road Rules]]'' in the 1990s. MTV continued to play music videos (albeit rarely) instead of exclusively relegating them to their genre channels; however, the music videos aired either in the early morning hours or in a condensed form on ''[[Total Request Live]]''. This has led to much viewer criticism and suggestions that the channel change its name. At the [[2007 MTV Video Music Awards|2007 Video Music Awards]], singer [[Justin Timberlake]] challenged MTV to "play more damn videos!"<ref>{{cite web|last=Orloff|first=Brian|title=Rihanna, Justin Timberlake Win Big at VMAs|url=http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20053775_20055499,00.html|work=People|date=2007-09-09|accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref>

==MTV News==
{{main|MTV News}}

[[L. Brent Bozell III]] of the conservative watchdog group [[Media Research Center]] has criticized [[MTV News]] for perceived [[Media bias in the United States#Claims of a liberal bias|liberal bias]] in its reporting.<ref name="can you dance">{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Judith|authorlink=Judith Miller (journalist)|title=But Can You Dance to It?: MTV Turns to News|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7DE1630F932A25753C1A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=1992-10-11|accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bozell|first=L. Brent III|authorlink=L. Brent Bozell III|title=Snapshots of MTV at 20|url=http://www.mediaresearch.org/BozellColumns/entertainmentcolumn/2001/col20010726.asp|work=[[Media Research Center|MediaResearch.org]]|publisher=Creators Syndicate|date=2001-07-26|accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bozell|first=L. Brent III|authorlink=L. Brent Bozell III|title=MTV-Pandering Kerry Digs Rap Music|url=http://www.mediaresearch.org/BozellColumns/entertainmentcolumn/2004/col20040402.asp|work=[[Media Research Center|MediaResearch.org]]|publisher=Creators Syndicate|date=2004-04-02|accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref> Writer [[Jonah Goldberg]] goes further, stating that "MTV serves as the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]]' main youth outreach program." <ref>[http://townhall.com/columnists/JonahGoldberg/2008/09/12/very_different_visions Very Different Visions] by [[Jonah Goldberg]]</ref>

==Live 8==
In July 2005, MTV drew heavy criticism for its coverage of [[Live 8]]. The network cut to commercials while bands were still performing, specifically rock acts [[Pink Floyd]] (during the guitar solo for "[[Comfortably Numb]]") and [[The Who]]. Criticism was also aimed at MTV and VH1 for focusing too much on ill-informed VJs and not enough on the music. In some instances, VJs referred to the event as "Live 8 2005" or even "Live Aid 8", demonstrating that they had little or no knowledge of the cause going into the event. Consequently, MTV and VH1 aired five hours of uninterrupted Live 8 coverage on [[July 9]], with each channel airing different blocks of artists.<ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = MTV, VH1 to Air Live 8 Performances Uninterrupted
| work = MTV.com
| publisher = MTV News
| date = 2005-07-07
| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1505406/20050707/story.jhtml
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-06-02 }}</ref>

{{details|Live 8#Criticisms}}

==Criticism by family organizations==
The conservative media watchdog group [[Parents Television Council]], which advocates family-friendly programming on television, has frequently criticized MTV in its campaigns for [[Cable television in the United States#A la carte|cable choice]], claiming that the network puts a bad influence on its targeted teenage audience, based on research done in 2004<ref>{{cite web
| last = Williams
| first = Casey
| title = MTV Smut Peddlers: Targeting Kids with Sex, Drugs, and Alcohol
| work = ParentsTV.org
| publisher = Parents Television Council
| date = 2005-02-01
| url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/mtv2005/MTV_Report.pdf
| accessdate = 2007-05-19|format=PDF}}</ref> and 2005.<ref>{{cite web
| title = I Want My Foul TV: More Evidence Proving Cable Industry Campaign to Promote Responsibility is a Sham
| work = ParentsTV.org
| publisher = Parents Television Council
| date = [[2005-08-11]]
| url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/release/2005/0811.asp
| accessdate = 2007-05-19}}</ref> Consequently, the PTC launched a campaign against MTV in 2005,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://parentstv.org/PTC/campaigns/MTV/main.asp|title=PTC campaign against MTV}}</ref> also asking advertisers to stop buying airtime on MTV,<ref>{{cite web
| last = Bozell
| first = L. Brent III
| title = Letter to MTV Sponsors
| publisher = [[Parents Television Council]]
| year = 2004
| url = http://parentstv.org/PTC/publications/release/2004/mtvsponsorletter.asp
| accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref> referring to them as "Corporate Sponsors of MTV Sleaze" and challenging them "to Defend Their Sponsorship of Teen-Targeted TV Smut".<ref>{{cite press release
| title = PTC Releases Top Ten Corporate Sponsors of MTV Sleaze and Challenges Companies to Defend Their Sponsorship of Teen-Targeted TV Smut
| publisher = [[Parents Television Council]]
| date = 2005-03-30
| url = http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/release/2005/0330.asp
| accessdate = 2007-08-08 }}</ref> In 2002, the PTC included five MTV programs in its top 10 list of least family-friendly programming of the 2001-02 television season:
* #2 ''[[Undressed (TV series)|Undressed]]''
* #4 ''[[The Real World]]''
* #7 ''[[Celebrity Deathmatch]]''
* #8 ''[[The Andy Dick Show]]''
* #10 ''[[The Osbournes]]''.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Top Ten Best & Worst Cable Shows of the 2001/02 TV season
| work = ParentsTV.org
| publisher = Parents Television Council
| date = [[2002-08-01]]
| url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/cable.asp
| accessdate = 2007-05-19}}</ref>
PTC founder [[L. Brent Bozell III]] asserted that MTV claims to reflect teen culture but claims with PTC research they are actually "manufacturing" it.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Bozell
| first = L. Brent III
| title = MTV Knows No Shame
| work = [[Media Research Center|Mediaresearch.org]]
| publisher = [[Creators Syndicate]]
| date = [[2005-02-04]]
| url = http://www.mediaresearch.org/BozellColumns/entertainmentcolumn/2005/col20050204.asp
| accessdate = 2007-05-19}}</ref>

The council also described MTV's focus on programming over music as a "showplace of smut" in reference to ''[[Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County]]'', ''Jackass'', ''[[Celebrity Deathmatch]]'', and ''[[Yo Momma (TV series)|Yo Momma]]''.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Gildemeister
| first = Christopher
| title = Cable Creeps Away from its Mission
| publisher = [[Parents Television Council]]
| date = 2006-09-18
| url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/culturewatch/2006/0918.asp
| accessdate = 2007-07-28 }}</ref> Additionally, MTV shows that have been named "Worst Cable Content of the Week" by PTC have included the ''[[Human Giant]]'',<ref>{{cite web | last = White | first = Keith | title = Worst Cable Content of the Week - "Human Giant" on MTV | publisher = [[Parents Television Council]] | date = 2007-06-02 | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/cable/worst.asp | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070602105327/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/cable/worst.asp | archivedate = 2007-06-02 | accessdate = 2007-10-31 }}</ref> ''[[Scarred]]'', ''[[The Hills (TV series)|The Hills]]'', ''[[A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila]]'', ''[[2006 MTV Movie Awards]]'',<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20060614164149/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/cable/main.asp PTC cable choice campaign page] from June 14, 2006</ref> and ''[[The X Effect]]''.

The [[American Family Association]] has also criticized MTV from perceptions of negative moral influence,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afa.net/mtvboycott.asp |title=MTV Boycott Information|publisher=AFA |date= |accessdate=2008-10-25}}</ref> even going as far as to describe MTV as promoting a "pro-[[sexual behavior|sex]], anti-[[family values|family]], [[pro-choice]] (i.e., pro-[[abortion]]), [[drug]] culture".<ref>{{cite web
| last = Fancher
| first = Bill
| title = Rock For Life Vows to Expose MTV's Anti-Family Agenda
| work = afa.net
| publisher = [[American Family Association]]
| date = 2004-06-14
| url = http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/6/afa/162004f.asp
| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070211092916/http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/6/afa/162004f.asp
| archivedate = 2007-02-11
| accessdate = 2007-07-21 }}</ref> [[Focus on the Family]] has released a spoken-word CD titled ''Confronting the MTV Culture'' to persuade parents to counter the "dangerous messages" of MTV.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://resources.family.org/product/id/104062.do?code=OL07XFRC |title=Confronting the MTV Culture |first=Jack |last=Samad |coauthors=Bob Waliszewski|publisher=Focus on the Family |date= |accessdate=2008-10-25}}</ref>

===MTV response===
In response to this initial criticism, since the early 1990s, MTV restructured its programming to incorporate moral behaviors that might influence its audience. Personalities on the channel began to support environmental issues and emphasize being "socially responsible", encouraging young people to take part in volunteer work in their community. For example, in the spring of 2006, MTV and [[United Way of America]] collaborated to promote Storm Corps, an organization to raise money for victims of [[Hurricane Katrina]] as an "alternative [[spring break]]" activity.<ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = ThinkMTV - Features - Alternative Spring Break 2006
| work = MTV.com
| publisher = MTV
| date = 2006-03-20
| url = http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/features/alternative_spring_break/index_2.jhtml
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-06-03}}</ref>

However, such efforts have been criticized as ineffective because of MTV's focus on recreation during its spring break promotion.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Bozell
| first = L. Brent III
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Spring Break: Hazardous to Your Health?
| work = ParentsTV.org
| publisher = Parents Television Council
| date = 2006-03-16
| url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/lbbcolumns/2006/0316.asp
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-06-03 }}</ref> In response, MTV claimed it was unfair for the [[Parents Television Council]] to claim that the network was corrupting youth solely based on its "Spring Break" programming, explaining that its president "attempted to inaccurately paint MTV with this brush of irresponsibility", the PTC's report "underestimates young people's intellect and their level of sophistication", and MTV does not use any [[obscenity|obscenities]] in any of its programs.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Eggerton
| first = John
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = PTC Doesn't Want Its MTV
| work =
| publisher = [[Broadcasting & Cable]]
| date = 2005-02-01
| url = http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA500535.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-07-30 }}</ref>

However, the PTC later claimed that MTV still continued to be extremely [[profanity|profane]] despite that statement, citing the numerous [[bleep censor|bleeped]] obscenities that still remained on MTV programs.<ref name="foul tv">{{cite press release
| title = I Want My Foul TV
| publisher = [[Parents Television Council]]
| date = 2005-08-11
| url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/release/2005/0811.asp
| accessdate = 2007-07-30 }}</ref> PTC then-president [[L. Brent Bozell III]] even went as far as to question if MTV [[standards and practices]] executives even "watch what they're broadcasting", thus submitting its MTV research to members of the [[U.S. Congress]] and [[Federal Communications Commission]].<ref>{{cite press release
| title = MTV's Defense of its Offensive Language is Offensive
| publisher = [[Parents Television Council]]
| date = 2005-08-16
| url =http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/release/2005/0816.asp
| accessdate = 2007-10-25 }}</ref> The PTC also claimed that MTV's efforts to promote use of the [[V-Chip]], which blocks certain programs based on [[TV Parental Guidelines]] ratings, was a "sham" because the network failed to use the proper content descriptors such as "L" ([[profanity|language]]).<ref name="foul tv"/> However, over the years, MTV has used descriptors in its programs, such as in ''[[Battle for Ozzfest]]'',<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/battle_for_ozzfest/series.jhtml The Battle for Ozzfest homepage] notes that the show was routinely rated "TV-14-DL"; the show was included in PTC's research.</ref> ''[[Run's House]]'',<ref>{{Citation
| last = Wheat
| first = Alynda
| title = What to Watch
| newspaper = [[Entertainment Weekly]]
| page = 142
| date =2005-10-24 }} The article noted that an episode of ''[[Run's House]]'' to air that week would be rated "TV-PG-L".</ref> and ''[[Yo Momma]]''<ref>''[[Yo Momma]]'' has been given "TV-14-DL" ratings.</ref>

Recently, MTV has devoted airtime to reruns of Fox's ''[[So You Think You Can Dance (US)|So You Think You Can Dance]]'', which the PTC has selected as "Best Show of the Week" several times during its run.<ref>So far, PTC has named five episodes of ''So You Think You Can Dance'' as "Best of the Week" from 2006 and 2007, according to its list of "[http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/welcome.asp Best and Worst TV Shows of the Week"] from those years. </ref> Additionally, the MTV shows ''[[Beauty and the Geek]]'' ([[television syndication|syndicated]] from [[The CW]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/shows/main.asp?shwid=2231|title=Parents Television Council evaluation of "Beauty and the Geek"}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Hipps | first = Jill| title = Beauty and the Geek - Television Review| publisher = Common Sense Media| year = 2005| url = http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/Beauty-Geek.html| accessdate = 2007-08-03 }}</ref> ''[[I'm From Rolling Stone]]'',<ref>{{cite web| last = Filucci| first = Sierra| title = I'm From Rolling Stone - Television Review| publisher = Common Sense Media| year = 2007| url =http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/Im-With-Rolling-Stone.html| accessdate = 2007-08-03 }}</ref> ''[[Juvies]]''<ref>{{cite web| last = Filucci| first = Sierra| title = MTV Juvies - Television Review| publisher = Common Sense Media| year = 2007| url =http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/MTV-Juvies.html| accessdate = 2007-08-03 }}</ref> ''[[Made (TV series)|Made]]'',<ref>{{cite web| last = Chaney| first = Elisabeth| title = MADE - Television Review| publisher = Common Sense Media| year = 2005| url = http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/MADE.html| accessdate = 2007-08-03 }}</ref> ''[[Run's House]]'',<ref>{{cite web| last = Hipps| first = Jill| title = "Run's House" Television Review| publisher = Common Sense Media| year = 2005| url = http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/Runs-House.html| accessdate = 2007-08-01 }}</ref> ''[[The Shop]]'',<ref>{{cite web| last = Maher| first = Lucy| title = The Shop - Television Review| publisher = Common Sense Media| year = 2005| url = http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/Shop.html| accessdate = 2007-08-03 }}</ref> ''[[Trick It Out]]'',<ref>{{cite web| last = Maher| first = Lucy| title = Trick it Out - Television Review| publisher = Common Sense Media| year = 2007| url = http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/Trick-It-Out.html| accessdate = 2007-08-03 }}</ref> and ''[[True Life]]''<ref>{{cite web| last = Pavao| first = Kate| title = "True Life" Television Review| publisher = Common Sense Media| year = 2005| url = http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/True-Life.html| accessdate = 2007-08-01 }}</ref> have been morally praised or approved.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.jumptheshark.com/forum/Mtv-Music-Television/1385 MTV: Music Television in Jump The Shark]
*[http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(l1b1wznd1mt2xgjto02fhw55))/view.aspx?id=6869&collection=5460 AmIAnnoying.com - MTV]
**[http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(l1b1wznd1mt2xgjto02fhw55))/collection.aspx?collection=5460 AmIAnnoying.com - MTV TV Series]
*[http://www.laweekly.com/index.php?option=com_lawcontent&task=view&id=7955 Who Hates Their MTV?]
*[http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/13_signs_that_mtv_hates_you 13 Signs That MTV Hates You | The A.V. Club]
*[http://jezebel.com/5217944/if-mtv-really-wants-to-do-good--why-is-cribs-still-on-the-air If MTV Really Wants To "Do Good", Why Is Cribs Still On The Air?]

{{MTV Networks}}

[[Category:Criticisms of companies|Mtv]]
[[Category:MTV Networks]]

Latest revision as of 01:20, 10 March 2018

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