It is about time, really.  The nation’s leading satellite television provider and Common Sense Media have finally made great information about movies, video games, satellite television shows, web sites, books and music available to parents through your satellite television provider’s website.

Detailed, age-based information on network television shows, pay-per-view options, and “on demand” programming is now at a parent’s fingertips.  Unbiased reviews, which are incredibly hard to come by, are also available for anyone to read.  Common Sense Media is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose only interest is providing information on media and entertainment that affects kids and their families.

When you visit the website, click on a television show or movie title in the programming guide.  Look for the “Parental Ratings” tab.  Once you have clicked this tab, you will find up-to-date information on violence, sexual content, hidden and overt messages, and much more. 

The website also provides a handy link to record any program to your DVR without leaving the site.  That is very handy, and makes a busy parent’s life so much easier.

By recording appropriate satellite television shows in advance, the temptation to watch less appropriate programs is removed, because you are choosing in advance what your family will watch. 

No more flipping through the channels – you are already watching the right shows, directly from your DVR.  No more tiresome arguments with the kids and no more keeping an eagle eye on their television viewing – you have arranged everything in advance.

There is work underway to expand these television and movie ratings and reviews to cover every part of your satellite television experience, moving the information from the Internet and into the channel guide.  The major part of the work is done, and moving ratings and reviews to the on screen satellite television guide is the next step.

The partnership bases its unbiased reviews on childhood development criteria.  The recent explosion in the number of supposedly kid-oriented satellite television channels has led to an equal explosion of animated cartoon shows and sitcoms which are not necessarily good for kids to watch. 

Without an extensive background in child development psychology, parents have no idea how damaging some of these shows can be to young children.

All parents know that nudity and swearing is not appropriate for kids, so they can quickly change the channel if it is obvious a show is beyond tolerance.  The new reviews offered through the partnership between your satellite television provider and Common Sense Media also review the sometimes subtle messages many shows have. 

Unless a parent sits down and watches every minute of every show with the kids, those messages may miss the parent’s interpretation, but still lodge in the impressionable young child’s brain.

This wonderful partnership between your satellite television provider and Common Sense Media is one more step by the entertainment industry to protect kids and families, and to provide the highest quality viewing experience possible for everyone.  It’s about time!