The Senate Commerce Committee approved by a 16-2 vote Wednesday a measure that would bar the broadcasting of violent TV shows during hours when children are likely to be watching.

Under the measure, sponsored by South Carolina Senator Fritz Hollings, the FCC would be directed to define violent programming and choose the hours when it can be aired. The Commission would be given one year to issue the new rules. The measure was denounced by Eddie Fritts, president of the National Association of Broadcasters.

In a letter to Commerce Committee chairman John McCain, Fritts wrote, "We cannot support an unconstitutional bill that would turn the federal government into the TV programmer for our nation." The online edition of Electronic Media predicted that the measure was likely to be passed by Congress as a rider to an appropriations bill. "There's no question it goes to court," an industry source told the trade publication.

Source: Studio Briefing