TV & VIDEO - Nov. 18, 1988

In a move to tighten guidelines on home videocassette ratings, the Motion Picture Association of America and the National Association of Theater Owners have agreed to a new program that will supply free or nominal-cost rating services to cassette producers, many of whom have refused to submit their films and made-for-video movies for ratings because fees were prohibitive. MPAA president Jack Valenti said Wednesday that the action is an attempt to “bring some order and discipline” to video ratings compliance and enforcement. Also--to keep consumers from being misled about what they are renting--the program requires that videocassettes of theatrical features originally receiving X or R ratings must be edited to accurately reflect their labeled ratings. Uncut versions would have to display both the original rating and a statement that the unedited version contains material different from the version seen in theaters.