Skip to main content Skip to search


Browse by
                    category
                Browse by
                    bureaus & offices
            About the FCC
          About the FCC
                      About the FCC Overview
                                                      What We Do
                                                      Rulemaking Process
                                                      Leadership
                                                      FCC Initiatives
                                                      Find People
                                                      Organizational Charts
                                                      Advisory Committees
                                                      Jobs and Internships
                                                      Contracting
                                                      Strategic Plans & Budgets
                                                      Contact
                                                                    FY 2025 Congressional Budget Justification
                                                      Privacy Policy
                                                      Accessibility Program
                Proceedings & Actions
          Proceedings & Actions
                      Proceedings and Actions Overview
                                                      Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)
                                                      Commission Documents (EDOCS)
                                                      Most Active Proceedings
                                                      Items on Circulation
                                                      Ex-Parte
                                                      Daily Digest
                                                      Mergers & Transactions
                                                      Auctions
                Licensing & Databases
          Licensing & Databases
                      Overview
                                                      About Licensing
                                                      Databases
                                                      Fees
                                                      Forms
                                                      FCC Registration System (CORES)
                                                      System Alerts & Notifications
                                                      ASR
                                                      CDBS
                                                      CEFS
                                                      COALS
                                                      CORES
                                                      CSRS
                                                      DIRS
                                                      EA
                                                      ECFS
                                                      EDOCS
                                                      ELS
                                                      ETFS
                                                      ETRS
                                                      GenMen
                                                      HAM
                                                      KDB
                                                      KIDVID
                                                      LMS
                                                      ICFS
                                                      NORS
                                                      PIF
                                                      PIRATE
                                                      PSIX-ESIX
                                                      RLD
                                                      TCB
                                                      ULS
                                                      URS
                                                      VPD
                Reports & Research
          Reports & Research
                      Reports and Data Overview
                                                      Reports
                                                      Data
                                                      Guides
                                                                    Maps
                                                      Working Papers
                                                      For Developers
                                                                    Fiscal Year 2022-2026 Strategic Plan
                                                      Workload Dashboard
                News & Events
          News & Events
                      News and Events Overview
                                                      Headlines
                                                      Commission Meetings
                                                      Events
                                                      Archived Events
                                                      FCC Podcast
                                                      Notes from the FCC
                                                      FCC Blog
                                                      RSS Feeds & Email Signup
                                                                    April 2024 Open Commission Meeting
                For Consumers
          For Consumers
                      Help Center Overview
                                                                    Consumer Complaint Center
                                                      Disability Rights
                                                      Headlines
                                                      Social Media
                                                                    Robocalls
                                                                    Consumer Complaint Center
              Consumer
                Enforcement
                Media
                Public Safety
                Space
                Wireless
                Wireline
                Offices
    
                  Search
  

  X
  Search Home
              Consumer
              Consumer Guides

  Children's Educational Television Español
                                한국어
                                繁體中文
                                Tagalog
                                Tiếng ViệtThe Children's Television Act requires each U.S. broadcast television station to air programming specifically designed to serve the educational and informational needs of children. It also limits the amount of time broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite providers can devote to advertisements during children's programs.

On July 10, 2019, the Commission adopted new rules to provide broadcasters greater flexibility to meet children's television programming requirements. The effective dates of the new rules will be announced in the Federal Register. Once the new rules take effect, TV stations will be required to:

Air at least 156 hours annually of core programs, including at least 26 hours per quarter of regularly scheduled weekly programs.
	Air the majority of their core programs on their primary program stream. Stations that multicast more than one stream of video programming may air up to 13 hours per quarter of regularly scheduled weekly programs on one of their multicast streams.Core programming for children

Core programming is specifically designed to serve the educational and informational needs of children 16 years of age and under, including the child's intellectual/cognitive or social/emotional needs. In addition, core programming:

Serves the educational and informational needs of children as a significant purpose.
	Is at least 30 minutes long, except that TV stations are permitted to air a limited amount of short-form programs less than 30 minutes long, including public service announcements and interstitial programs, and have those programs count as core programs.
	Is aired between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
	Is a regularly scheduled weekly program, except that TV stations are permitted to air a limited amount of core programs that are not regularly scheduled on a weekly basis, such as educational specials and regularly scheduled non-weekly programs, and have those programs count as core programs.Commercial television stations must provide information identifying educational programs for children to publishers of program guides and TV listings. In addition, commercial television stations must identify core programs by displaying the symbol E/I throughout the program.

Commercial time limitations

FCC rules limit the amount of commercial matter that can be aired in children's television programming for an audience of children 12 years old and younger to 10.5 minutes per hour on weekends and 12 minutes per hour on weekdays. The FCC also requires this program material be separated from commercials by intervening and unrelated program material. The time limits do not apply to public television stations because these stations are generally prohibited from airing commercials.

Displaying web addresses during programs

The display of website addresses during programs directed to children ages 12 and under is permitted only if the website meets the following criteria:

It offers a substantial amount of bona fide program-related or other non-commercial content.
	It is not primarily intended for commercial purposes.
	The website's home page and menu pages clearly distinguish non-commercial from commercial sections.
	The page of the website that viewers are directed to is not used for e-commerce, advertising or other commercial purposes.Television broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite providers may not display website addresses during or adjacent to a children's program if products are sold featuring a character in the program, or a program character is used to sell products. The website display prohibition does not apply to certain public service announcements, station identifications and emergency announcements.

Tracking compliance with FCC rules

Commercial TV stations are required to file with the FCC annual reports identifying the station's core programs and other efforts to comply with their educational programming obligations. These reports - Children's Television Programming Reports (FCC Form 2100 Schedule H) – must be available to the public. The reports can be obtained from the station's online public inspection file at publicfiles.fcc.gov or from the FCC's Children's Educational Television Reporting page. Also, commercial TV broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite providers must maintain records to verify compliance with commercial time limits and make these records available for public inspection.

Printable Version

Children's Educational Television (pdf)

              Date Last Updated/Reviewed:
                  Tuesday, January 26, 2021
      
              **Bureau/Office:**
  Consumer and Governmental Affairs
      
              Tags:
    
      
    ConsumersChildren and Family
                    Educational Television
      
      

                    **Alternate Format Requests**
      People with print disabilities may request braille, large print, or screen-reader friendly versions of this article via the email form at fcc504@fcc.gov. For audio and other access, use the "Explore Accessibility Options" link.
        **Consumer Help Center**
      Learn about consumer issues - visit the FCC's Consumer Help Center at fcc.gov/consumers
        **File a Complaint with the FCC**
      File Your Complaint

Visit our Consumer Complaint Center at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov  to file a complaint or tell us your story.
 Text
                  Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street NE
Washington, DC 20554

  Link
        Phone: 1-888-225-5322
              ASL Video Call: 1-844-432-2275
              Fax: 1-866-418-0232
              Contact Us
              Visiting FCC Facilities

          
          Link
        Website Policies & Notices
              Privacy Policy
              FOIA
              No Fear Act Data
              Digital Strategy
              Open Government Directive
              Plain Writing Act
              RSS Feeds & Email Updates
              Accessibility
              Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
              USA.gov

          
          Text
                  CATEGORIES

  Link
        About the FCC
              Proceedings & Actions
              Licensing & Databases
              Reports & Research
              News & Events
              For Consumers

          
          Text
                  BUREAUS & OFFICES

  Link
        Consumer
              Enforcement
              Inspector General
              Media
              Public Safety
              Space
              Wireless
              Wireline
              Offices


          Twitter
        Facebook
        Youtube
        Instagram

          Federal Communications Commission