Is The V-Chip A Stealth Weapon Against Commercials?
Norman Solomon Imagine sitting in front of a TV set that automatically blocks out commercials. A fantasy? Maybe not. The option could soon be available in the United States. Ever since politicians began to hype the V-chip, it has been heralded as a way for parents to protect kids from violence and sex on the tube. But the V-chip could turn out to have some unintended consequences. Two major TV manufacturers — producing such brands as Panasonic, RCA and General Electric — are going ahead with plans to make television sets with V-chips that enable viewers to block unrated programming, a category that includes news, sports and commercials. The owners of TV stations and networks seem worried, to put it mildly. The National Association of Broadcasters and the National Cable Television Association are adamant: They want those TV sets kept off the market. But TV makers point out that consumer choice should not be restricted. And they cite an unambiguous FCC ruling: “We will not prohibit fea
