Television has its own rating system, separate from the one used for cinema films. If you have ever wondered what TV-14 or TV-MA means when it flashes up at the start of a show, this guide explains the TV age ratings — known officially as the TV Parental Guidelines — in simple, practical terms.
The TV ratings at a glance
| TV-Y | Designed for all children, including the youngest. |
| TV-Y7 | Suitable for children 7 and older; may include mild fantasy violence. |
| TV-G | General audience — most parents are comfortable letting children watch. |
| TV-PG | Parental guidance suggested; may contain some mature material. |
| TV-14 | Parents strongly cautioned; unsuitable for children under 14. |
| TV-MA | Mature audiences only — intended for adults. |
What each TV rating means
TV-Y and TV-Y7
TV-Y content is made for the youngest viewers, with nothing that would frighten or upset a toddler. TV-Y7 is aimed at children 7 and up and may include mild fantasy or comedic violence — the kind found in many superhero cartoons. A variant, TV-Y7-FV, flags more intense “fantasy violence.”
TV-G
General-audience programming with little or no violence, strong language or sexual content. Most parents are happy to let children watch unsupervised, though it isn’t specifically designed for kids the way TV-Y is.
TV-PG
May contain moderate content — some suggestive dialogue, mild language, or limited violence. Parental guidance is suggested, and the content letters (below) tell you exactly which elements are present so you can decide.
TV-14
Contains material many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14, such as intense violence, strong language or sexually suggestive scenes. Many popular dramas, thrillers and reality shows carry this rating, so check the content letters before assuming it’s fine.
TV-MA
Made specifically for adults. Expect graphic violence, explicit language or sexual content. TV-MA shows are not appropriate for children, even mature tweens.
The content letters: D, L, S and V
Alongside the rating you will often see small letters that explain why a show earned it. These are more useful than the rating alone:
| Letter | Meaning |
|---|---|
| D | Suggestive dialogue |
| L | Coarse or strong language |
| S | Sexual situations |
| V | Violence (FV = fantasy violence in children’s shows) |
So “TV-14-LV” tells you a show is rated TV-14 specifically for language and violence — letting you judge whether those particular concerns matter for your child.
Who sets TV ratings?
Unlike films, US television ratings are assigned by the networks and producers themselves, overseen by the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board. Because the people making a show also rate it, strictness can vary between networks — another reason to check a detailed content guide for shows your kids want to watch.
How TV ratings compare to movie ratings
| TV rating | Rough movie equivalent |
|---|---|
| TV-Y / TV-G | G |
| TV-PG | PG |
| TV-14 | PG-13 |
| TV-MA | R / NC-17 |
The systems aren’t identical, but this mapping helps if you’re used to one and not the other. For the film side, see movie age ratings explained.
How streaming services use TV ratings
Netflix, Disney+, Max, Hulu and others display these ratings on every title and let you filter profiles by maturity level. That means you can lock a child’s profile so it only shows, say, TV-PG and below. Our step-by-step guides walk you through it for Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TV-14 the same as PG-13?
They are roughly comparable — both target ages 13–14 and above — but TV-14 is for television and PG-13 is for cinema films, set by different bodies.
What is the most mature TV rating?
TV-MA is the highest, intended only for adults and not suitable for children.
What do the letters after a rating mean?
They describe the specific content — D (dialogue), L (language), S (sex) or V (violence) — that led to the rating.
Are TV ratings reliable?
They’re a useful guide, but because networks rate their own shows, it’s wise to check an independent content review for anything borderline.
Helpful resources
You can read the official descriptions at the TV Parental Guidelines site, and find detailed show reviews at Common Sense Media.
Next steps
For cinema films, see movie age ratings explained. Want to apply these limits at home? Start with Netflix parental controls, and learn what TV-MA really means.