Explained › Ratings › TV Parental Guidelines (US TV & streaming)
TV ratings explained: every level and descriptor
✅ Last verified: Oct 14, 2026 against official sources linked below.
Quick answer
- US TV ratings appear in the corner of the screen and on most US streaming services.
- Levels: TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, TV-MA.
- Ratings cover what's on screen, not online chat or ads.
US TV ratings appear in the corner of the screen and on most US streaming services. Letters after the rating explain why.
Every TV level
| Rating | What it means | Typical content | Age context |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV-Y | All children. | Designed for very young kids, ages 2–6. | Preschool-safe. |
| TV-Y7 | Ages 7+. | Mild fantasy or comedic violence; may frighten under-7s. TV-Y7-FV = more intense fantasy violence. | Ages 7+. |
| TV-G | General audience. | Little or no violence, strong language or sexual content. | Most ages. |
| TV-PG | Parental guidance suggested. | Some material may be unsuitable for younger children. | Watch with younger kids. |
| TV-14 | Parents strongly cautioned. | May be unsuitable under 14. | Ages 14+, or decide case by case. |
| TV-MA | Mature audiences only. | May be unsuitable under 17. | Adults. |
Content descriptors
| D | Suggestive dialogue (TV-PG/TV-14) |
|---|---|
| L | Coarse language |
| S | Sexual situations |
| V | Violence |
| FV | Fantasy violence (TV-Y7 only) |
Official source: www.tvguidelines.org
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