
	TM The Foul Language Filter

TVGuardian TV Guardian TVG filter foul language block parental control offensive phrases words edit editor editing censor censoring profanity free adapter content closed caption closed caption captioning distributor information Oklahoma tvguardian tv guardian tvg

TVGuardian Automatically Filters Out Profanity and Other Offensive Phrases

How does the TVGuardian work?

TVGuardian uses a patent pending process to detect offensive language, mute the audio and modify the broadcast closed captioned signal. The process consists of monitoring the closed captioned signal. Each captioned word is checked against a dictionary of offensive words stored in the TVGuardian. If an offensive word is detected, the audio is muted for the sentence, the offensive word is removed from the closed captioned signal. A suitable word is substituted for the profanity, when appropriate, and the replacement sentence is displayed on the screen in text form. Example: In the movie Mrs. Doubtfire, "You bring home the 'gd' zoo," would be silenced. The words, "You bring home the zoo," would be displayed in closed-caption on the TV.

Why is the TVGuardian better than the competing products?
The Curse Free TV and the TV Guardian are not sold by the same company, but they are basically the same thing. They come off the same assembly line and although Curse Free likes to advertise that they are an improved version of the TVGuardian, they are not. The only difference between the 2 units is the library of words that they use to replace the foul words. The Curse Free TV tries to keep people from even thinking the foul work by replacing them with something that does not quite make sense. The TVGuardian keeps the essense of the sentence the same. For example, where Curse Free TV uses "toe" to replace "butt", the TVGuardian uses "tail". They both have strict and moderate (or religious) settings. The only other difference is that the TVGuardian is usually less expensive.

What are the different settings available with TVGuardian?

TVGuardian has two switches, and both switches have three settings.

The first switch controls the filter setting. The filter options are:

Off
Tolerant Mode
A small subset of words is allowed such as: Jesus, God, hell, crap, butt, sucks, and some uses of screw ("stop screwing around", and "you really screwed up this time.")
Strict Mode
The words allowed in the tolerant mode are filtered out, plus approximately 100 other offensive words and phrases are removed.

The second switch is the closed-caption switch. It controls what happens when an offensive word is detected. The closed-caption options are:

Off
When the closed-caption setting is off, TVGuardian simply mutes the audio during the phrase that contains the offensive language. The closed-caption text is not displayed.
Full Closed-Captioning
All dialog is closed-captioned. TVGuardian still automatically removes the offensive language from both the audio and closed-captioning.
Display Text During Mute Only
When an offensive word or phrase is detected, TVGuardian will display the text for the muted phrase. However, the offensive word or phrase is removed and a substitute word is put in its place when appropriate.
The following illustrates how Strict Mode and Display Text During Mute Only operates:

Mrs. Doubtfire:
"You bring home the 'gd' zoo," would be silenced. The words, "You bring home the zoo," would be displayed in closed-caption on the TV.

E.T.: "It was nothing like that 'pns' breath," would be silenced. The words, "It was nothing like that jerk breath," would be displayed in closed-caption on the TV.

Back to the Future: For the phrase, 'Dmn'. I'm late for school," TVGuardian would only silence the word 'Dmn,' the audio for "I'm late for school," would still be heard.

Independence Day:
For the dialog, "Let's organize every plane we can find and get us some 'gd' pilots to fly them," the audio would be silenced after the word "find," the phrase "and get us some pilots to fly them," would be displayed in closed-caption on the TV.

Does TVG filter “god” when used as an expletive?

TVGuardian always attempts to filter "gd" in both filter settings. The strict filter setting also filters the words God, Jesus, and Christ when used as an expletive.

What type of warranty do I get with TVGuardian?

TVGuardian comes with a one year warranty on parts and labor.

Is there a money back Satisfaction Guarantee?

Yes. If you're not completely satisfied with TVGuardian, just return it to us within thirty days after delivery for a full refund of the purchase price not including shipping and handling.

How do I connect TVGuardian to my TV?

Simply plug the included A/V cable into your VCR's AUDIO & VIDEO OUT jacks, and plug the other end into TVGuardian's AUDIO & VIDEO IN jacks. Then plug the supplied coaxial cable from TVGuardian into your television's ANT IN jack. TVGuardian also has A/V OUT jacks for use with stereo TV sets (cable not included).

What is the closed captioned signal?

The closed captioned signal is a hidden signal that is embedded in the video signal of most broadcast television and video tapes. It is intended for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Closed-captioning service officially began in the early 1980's. On August 7, 1997, the FCC approved a new law which will mandate captioning on virtually all television programming in the United States.

This mandate will be phased in over the coming years. However, today the closed captioned signal is in almost every new video release and major network broadcast. Again, TVGuardian reads this hidden signal to detect offensive words.

Does my TV have to be equipped with Closed-Caption features?

Absolutely not. TVGuardian is equipped with everything needed. All you have to do is connect one cable from your VCR to TVGuardian, and another cable from TVGuardian to your television.

How do I know if a movie is closed captioned?

You can normally expect any movie released or re-released since the mid-1980's to be closed-captioned, this includes almost every movie including old movies. For instance, Gone With The Wind is closed-captioned. However, if you want to be sure. Look at the movie label, or box. Some are captioned, yet don't contain a notice. However, most have "Closed-Captioned" or "CC" symbols.

Does it work on regular TV?

Yes it does. Virtually all programs broadcast on the major networks today are closed-captioned. This means TVGuardian works on regular TV programs such as Friends, Seinfeld, ER, Law and Order, etc. It also works on pay-per-view, and other cable channels such as HBO, USA, TBS, WGN, Cinemax and many more.

New laws were passed in 1997 requiring 95% of all new programs, and 75% of all old programs to be closed-captioned. This law applies to all television, and it will be implemented over the next few years.

Why doesn't it detect every profane word?

Since TVGuardian is dependent on the accuracy of the closed captioning to detect offensive words, it cannot know if an offensive word is spoken unless it is captioned. The closed captioned signal is approximately 95% accurate on scripted, or prerecorded programs. Therefore, TVGuardian is approximately 95% accurate on these programs. However, it is not going to detect offensive words when the following occurs:

An offensive word is not captioned in the video signal.
An offensive word is captioned, but it is not synchronized with the audio.
An unusual offensive word is used, and it is not in TVGuardian's dictionary.
The program is not closed captioned.
The program is a live broadcast, and the closed captioning is delayed.
The video tape or the head of the VCR is dirty.

Why should I buy TVGuardian when the V-Chip is coming?

TVGuardian and the V-Chip are two very different parental control devices. The V-Chip is merely an automated on/off switch. It is based on a ratings system that is broadcast with the television signal. If a program's rating exceeds the allowed rating set by the parents, the V-Chip blocks the entire program. Since the V-Chip is based on the broadcast ratings system, it does not work on movies played on a VCR, Laser Disc Player, etc.

TVGuardian, on the other hand, fills a void left by the V-Chip. Most parents that don't want their children watching certain programs, simply don't let their children watch them. The problem is programs with content suitable for children, except for the language. TVGuardian solves this problem. In addition, it works on movies played on your own VCR.

Does the TVG work with DVD players?

We have found through extensive testing of many models, old and new, that the TVG works well with all the DVD players tested. However, there are some DVD movies that will not work. DVD movies made by Universal Studios do not work. They can easily be distinguished by the following unique characteristics on the back cover of the movie:

Produced by Universal Studios.
They don’t have the CC or television with the CC logo.
They contain a table or chart of features on the back cover (this is the most distinguishable feature to look for).
They contain Universal Studio’s copyright info in fine print at the bottom of the back cover.
It is important to point out that this is only the case with Universal Studio DVD movies--their video movies work fine.

What is the Curse Free TV product and how does it differ from ours?

Curse Free TV is a private brand owned by another company. Their unit is made on the same assembly line as ours, and is identical with the following exceptions. Its packaging box is a different color (light blue). It has fewer filter setting choices than ours. It has been programmed to remove the sense of the phrase that has a bad word, so that you cannot even “think the bad word in your mind.” However, there is a problem with this change in the programming, as cited by a Waco Tribune-Herald newspaper article, August 21, 1999, which states that using the Curse Free TV can be “a bit disorienting… the alternative language doesn’t always make sense.” For example a Ft. Worth Star Telegram article about the Curse Free TV unit pointed out that in “Men in Black,” Tommy Lee Jones yells, “Get your big A _ _ back in the house....” The Curse Free TV unit changed the sense entirely to “Get your big toe back in the house.” The TVGuardian, on the other hand, would change it to something like, “Get your big rear back in the house.” The TVG maintains the sense of the phrase, and the integrity of the script, but without the offensive word. Therefore, the TVGuardian unit does not creat the “disorienting” effect as the Curse Free unit does. We are friends with the company which markets the Curse Free TV unit, and because their marketing techniques are different than ours, they do not hurt our business, nor we theirs. We can actually work together to get this great product to the homes in our poor, morally decaying country.

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