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US TV industry to launch $300 mn ad campaign on parental controls
MUMBAI: Former Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) chief Jack Valenti has taken upon himself the responsibility of educating parents on what their kids should watch on television.
At the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference, Valenti announced plans for a $300 million ad blitz in June by television broadcasters, networks, cable operators, satellite television and the consumer electronics industry about how parents can control what their kids watch.
According to media reports, though Valenti insisted that this is an effort to respond to parental demands that more choices be available to protect children, the general aim of the campaign is a direct effort to keep lawmakers from toughening the current rules on television content, especially the fines assessed to noncompliant stations.
Valenti said in announcing the campaign, “No one today knows what is indecent. We want to tell American parents that they and they alone have total power to control every hour of television programming that comes into their home. We hope in June we will launch all over this country thousands of messages going into each parent’s home so in time they will know the power that they possess.”
The ad campaign comes at the same time that a crackdown by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on broadcast television stations is being waged. The current push for the FCC is for US lawmakers to extend the indecency restrictions now in place to the subscription television industry.
“We need clearer guidance from the FCC and Congress on where the lines are drawn. The FCC’s recent decisions have done little to clarify what broadcasters can air. The intention for the advertising campaign is to advance parental use of control mechanisms and the TV ratings systems,” said NAB chief executive officer David Rehr.
US regulations bar radio and television broadcasters from airing indecent material, usually profanity or sexually explicit content, except late at night when children are less likely to be in the audience. The FCC proposed $3.6 million in fines against television stations for decency violations, including about $3.3 million against CBS stations for airing an episode of Without a Trace that depicted teenagers engaged in group sex.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
