Television and Children: five years after the Self-regulation Code

In the context of the technological transformations caused by the digital switchover in Television, the management and exploitation of DTT presents important challenges to service providers. One of the most outstanding challenges is the creation of contents that ensures minors’ correct education and protection against violence and harmful social behaviours. This article presents the results of a qualitative and quantitative study, conducted by the authors and other researchers from the Rey Juan Carlos University, aimed at verifying the effective application of the Self-regulation Code on TV Contents and Children that was signed by the main national and regional networks operating in Spain. The study examined all the programmes broadcast during the time of special protection for children introduced by the Self-regulation Code, by TVE 1, Antena 3, Cuatro, Tele5, La Sexta, and Telemadrid from September to December 2008 and from July to September 2009. Based on the results, the article offers a verdict on the degree of success with which the objectives of the Self-regulation Code have been met by the networks.