45
Canadian Rating Systems
• The TV rating systems in Canada are based on the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) policy on violence in television programming.
• While violence is the most important content element to be rated, the structure developed takes into
consideration other program content like language, nudity, sexuality and mature themes.
• When setting the V-CHIP on the Canadian system you can choose either the Canadian English ratings or the
Canadian French ratings.
Useful adjustment settings
Canadian French ratings
Canadian English ratings
Rating
Description
E
C
C8
e
G
PG
14
e
18
e
Age
Exempt: Includes news, sports, documentaries and other information programming; talk shows,
music videos, and variety programming.
Children: Intended for younger children under the age of 8 years. Pays careful attention to themes
that could threaten their sense of security and well-being.
Children over 8 years old: Contains no portrayal of violence as the preferred, acceptable, or only
way to resolve confl ict; nor encourage children to imitate dangerous acts which they may see on
the screen.
General: Considered acceptable for all age groups. Appropriate viewing for the entire family,
contains very little violence, physical, verbal or emotional.
Parental Guidance: Intended for a general audience, but may not be suitable for younger children
(under the age of 8) because it could contain controversial themes or issues.
Over 14 Years: Could contain themes where violence is one of the dominant elements of the
storyline, but it must be integral to the development of plot or character. Language usage could
be profane and nudity present within the context of the theme.
Adults: Intended for viewers 18 years and older and might contain depictions of violence, which
while related to the development of plot, character or themes, are intended for adult viewing.
Could contain graphic language and portrayals of sex and nudity.
Rating
Description
E
G
8ans
e
13ans
e
16ans
e
18ans
e
Age
Exempt programming.
General: All ages and children, contains minimal direct violence, but may be integrated into the
plot in a humorous or unrealistic manner.
General but inadvisable for young children: May be viewed by a wide public audience, but could
contain scenes disturbing to children under 8 who cannot distinguish between imaginary and real
situations. Recommended for viewing with parent.
Over 13 years: Could contain scenes of frequent violent scenes and therefore recommended for
viewing with parent.
Over 16 years: Could contain frequent violent scenes and intense violence.
Over 18 years: Only for adult viewing. Could contain frequent violent scenes and extreme violence.
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