Media cos. want parents, not the FCC, to control kids' TV viewing

Commercial networks, broadcast, cable and consumer electronics trade associations, film studios and the Ad Council are partnering on a broad campaign to educate parents about V-chips, cable channel blocking and other tools and techniques for controlling what kids see on TV, reports Broadcasting & Cable. A new website, www.thetvboss.org, is the cornerstone of the campaign, which is an effort to stave off federal content regulation as FCC leaders aggressively police broadcast indecency and support a la carte cable models.

Schorr a "wise old man with all his buttons"

NPR's Daniel Schorr "is a wise old man with all his buttons, and that is a precious resource," says a media analyst in a USA Today feature on the newsman.

PBS Kids Sprout cans "technical virgin"

Digital cable net PBS Kids Sprout fired Melanie Martinez, host of the network's nightly The Good Night Show, for appearing in two spoof videos titled Technical Virgin, the Associated Press reports (via the Washington Post). The videos, produced before Martinez joined the kids network, parody PSAs about how young women can keep their virginity. "PBS Kids Sprout has determined that the dialogue in this video is inappropriate for her role as a preschool program host and may undermine her character's credibility with our audience," said Sandy Wax, network president.