Number of Sexual Scenes on TV Nearly Double Since 1998

[SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation]
The number of sexual scenes on television has nearly doubled since 1998. And while the inclusion of references to “safer sex” issues -- such as waiting to have sex, using protection, or possible consequences of unprotected sex -- has also increased since 1998, that rate has leveled off in recent years. The study examined a representative sample of more than 1,000 hours of programming including all genres other than daily newscasts, sports events, and children’s shows. All sexual content was measured, including talk about sex and sexual behavior. The study found that 70% of all shows include some sexual content, and that these shows average 5.0 sexual scenes per hour, compared to 56% and 3.2 scenes per hour respectively in 1998, and 64% and 4.4 scenes per hour in 2002. But despite these overall increases in sexual content, the number of shows in which sexual intercourse is either depicted or strongly implied is down slightly in recent years (7% in 1998, 14% in 2002, and 11% in 2005). Among shows with any sexual content, 14% include at least one scene with a reference to sexual risks or responsibilities -- up from 9% in 1998, but approximately the same rate as in 2002 (15%). In shows with intercourse-related content, more than one in four (27%) includes a reference to sexual risks or responsibilities. This is nearly double the rate found in 1998 (14%), but approximately the same as in 2002 (26%).
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia110905pkg.cfm

* TV Sex Nearly Doubles, Says Kaiser
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6282538?display=Breaking+News...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

* Television More Oversexed Than Ever, Study Finds
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/09/AR200511...

* Turning on TV: More of a turn-on?
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20051110/d_lede10.art.htm

* Television Awash in Sex, Study Says
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-tvsex10nov10,1,700928...

* Sen. Obama Warns TV to Clean Up or Congress Will Act
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) warned the television industry that if it doesn't take significant steps to make it easier for parents to control what their children view on television, Congress will step in and legislate."Once again, we find ourselves asking those in charge to serve the needs of a nation that has a higher calling than simply peddling indecency and materialism for profit," the senator said.
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=8885
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