Quote - and tyger_purr, i don't believe you are in any way correct.  the ratings on tv judged by one body, unless i'm mistaken.

 

http://www.tvguidelines.org/default.asp

Other Frequently Asked Questions How are programs rated?
Programs are voluntarily rated by the broadcast and cable television networks.

What is syndicated programming, and how is it rated?
Syndicated programs are those programs such as talk shows, game shows, and archived reruns of dramas and sitcoms first run by networks or cable systems, which are purchased by local television stations. The distributor of such programs is usually responsible for rating them.

Who rates a movie that has been edited for television?
Theatrical movies rarely run uncut on broadcast or basic cable network television. The broadcast or basic cable network edits these movies according to the network's standards. After the movie has been modified, it is given a TV Parental Guideline rating. Premium cable networks like HBO and Showtime do run uncut theatrical movies. These movies carry the original MPAA movie rating, in addition to supplemental content advisories provided by the network.

Where do I send complaints about a program's rating?
The TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board is responsible for ensuring that the ratings are applied with accuracy and consistency. Individuals can contact the Board via mail, phone, or e-mail to voice complaints

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_content_rating_systems
The TV Parental Guidelines system was first proposed in the United States on December 19, 1996 by the Congress, the television industry and the FCC, and went into effect on January 1st, 1997 on most major broadcast and cable networks in response to public complaints of increasingly explicit sexual content, graphic violence and strong profanity in television programs. It was established as a voluntary-participation system, with ratings to be determined by the individually-participating broadcast and cable networks. It was specifically designed to be used with the V-chip, which was mandated to be built into all television sets manufactured since 2000, but the guidelines themselves have no legal force.

Quote - and since i've seen pretty much the same videos on random video shows on broadcast as on mtv, i'd even say it's the same standard.  there is a difference between what is allowed before and after 10 p.m.  but it has nothing to do with cable vs. broadcast.

 

Cable's limitations are self imposed to attract an audiance.

Quote - as for the mpaa, you can say it's an opinion, but i've seen several interviews and documentaries talk about the specific no-nos, and how they've changed over the years. so to me calling their rating an "opinion" rather than a set of rules is splitting hairs.
 

 

http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_Ratings.asp

They seem to think they are giving an opinion.

"G rating-This is a film which contains nothing in theme, language, nudity and sex, violence, etc. that would, in the view of the Rating Board, be offensive to parents whose younger children view the film.
PG-13 rating- ...A PG-13 film is one which, in the view of the Rating Board, leaps beyond the boundaries of the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, or other contents, but does not quite fit within the restricted R category.
R rating - In the opinion of the Rating Board, this film definitely contains some adult material.
NC-17 - This rating declares that the Rating Board believes this is a film that most parents will consider patently too adult for their youngsters under 17. "

I did find the PG rating descripton interesting

"The PG rating, suggesting parental guidance, is thus an alert for examination of a film by parents before deciding on its viewing by their children. Obviously such a line is difficult to draw. In our pluralistic society it is not easy to make judgments without incurring some disagreement."

I too have seen interviews and documentaries talk about the specific no-nos. This is where i learned that the MPAA will not tell you specificaly why you are getting a rating.

You may find section The rating process herehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPAA_film_rating_system

interesting. 

for example
"It is a common misconception that if a movie uses "f**k" in a nonsexual context more than once, it will automatically receive an R rating. In reality, PG-13 movies are routinely allowed two or three uses, such as A Civil Action (which uses it at least 3 times)"

Quote - if you are asking how to be clearer about what seems to be arbitrary consensus- give lots and lots and lots of examples.  because i've seen a lot of images allowed that i thought were well outside of the rules applied to images people say they've had pulled.  basically, you're saying you want to apply a standard specific to the renderosity staff, and the only way to make that standard clear is to flood people with as much of that standard as there are say, pantene ads and magazine covers that set an alternative standard.   or, conversely, magazines behind the counter or in paper covers, parental advisories and r-rated movies.  basically, you've got to make your ratings style more public, so it can be second nature to people.  since your fighting a pretty huge and well-funded media structure to do that, good luck with that. 

 

The more specific you get, the more often you will have to modify it to meet current standards and to stop people who want to skirt the edge, to find a way to show as much as they can while being technicaly "legal".

Some may say an example of this (and i'm not trying to start a debat on this) would be the Fairy pictures being naked children with wings put on to be technicaly legal as faries are hundreds of years old. likewise with pointy ears being mature elves.

My Homepage - Free stuff and Galleries