Playboy Spearheads Parental Control Campaign

Playboy Enterprises Inc. has announced its intention to begin a nation wide campaign educating American parents on how to shield their children from adult programming. The campaign includes a resource web site, www.takeparentalcontrol.org, and cable TV spots beginning in the next few months.

"What's important to us is that people understand that we are supporting our programming, but also supporting a person's right to choose not to see our programming," said Playboy Entertainment Group president Jim Griffiths.

The web site offers parents information on how to control content on TV's, cable set-up boxes, internet connections, cell phones and satellite radio programs, as well as how to better utilize current rating systems.

"You have to give them credit because they recognize that their programming isn't meant for people of all ages, and so, to their credit, they are stepping up and engaging in this type of campaign," an anonymous cable-industry lobbyist told Multichannel News. "They're assuming a lot of responsibility on their behalf."

Playboy Chairman and CEO, Christie Hefner, is calling upon Comcast Corp., Time Warner Inc., Microsoft Corp., Verizon Communications Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment and Viacom Inc to partner with them in their efforts.