Using the TV’s Features
40
Chapter 3
Parental Controls
The
Parental Controls
menu allows you to program your TV so that children
cannot see certain programs, channels, or use the buttons on the front of the TV.
The
Parental Controls
menu controls the software inside your TV (referred to as
V-Chip) which lets you program your TV so it won’t display certain programs and
movies based on violence, sex, or other content you may believe children should
not view. Once you block programs, you or other adults can unblock programs by
entering a password to unlock video or enter the password to edit the features in
the
Parental Controls
menu. By default, the software inside your TV is turned “off,”
so if you don’t want to use this feature, you can just ignore it.
The options in the
Parental Controls
menu are
USA V-Chip, Canada V-Chip, V-Chip
Unrated,
and
Front Button Block
.
Before V-Chip is explained, fi rst you need to know how to lock and unlock your
TV.
Lock/Unlock TV
The Lock/Unlock TV option is found in the Channel Setup menu. Selecting this
option lets you lock and unlock the parental controls and channel lists using a
password. If the TV is locked
when watching TV, you only see the channels that
are marked as
Viewable
. Locking the TV also blocks channels in
Channel Setup
(go
to page 56 for more information).
Notes:
When locking the TV, you’ll be asked to enter a password and then to re-
enter the password a second time to re-confi rm your password choice.
If you do not lock the TV, none of the settings for V-Chip, channel block, and front
panel block take effect.
If you forget your password, simultaneously press and hold the MENU/OK button
on the front panel and VOL- button on the remote for three seconds. This resets the
password only and unlocks the TV; all other settings in Parental Controls are not
changed.
Channel Search
Lock TV
Go Back
2
1
0
Video Input List
Antenna Ch. List
Cable Channel List
5
4
3
Advanced Settings
6
Parental Controls
7
Locking the TV puts into effect the rating limits, the Locked
List, and blocking features. Press OK to continue.
*
*
* *
* * * *
The TV is currently unlocked.
Locking the TV will enforce the rating limits (V-Chip),
and blocking features that you have set up. Also, the
Childrens’ Channel list of “safe channels” is used instead
of the Favorite Channel List.
In order to lock the TV, enter the four-digit password you
would like to use.
Main Menu
4
Channel Setup
Confirm the password by entering it again.
Tip
You must lock the TV for the parental controls settings to be
enforced.
Channel Search
Lock TV
Go Back
2
1
0
Video Input List
Antenna Ch. List
5
4
Advanced Settings
6
Parental Controls
7
Cable Channel Lists
3
Press OK or
4
to access the Parental Controls menu.
Main Menu
4
Channel Setup
•
USA V-Chip
•
Canada V-Chip
•
V-Chip Unrated
•
Front Button Block
The Parental Controls menu lets you adjust the TV’s
blocking features, like V-Chip, which can block programs:
How V-Chip Works for the USA and Canada
V-Chip reads the program’s age-based rating (TV-MA, TV-14, etc.) and content themes [(Violence (V), Adult
Language (L), etc.)]. If you have blocked the rating and/or content themes that the program contains, you will
receive the message telling you that the program is blocked from viewing.
Broadcasters are not required to provide content themes, so programs received with no content themes will
only be blocked if you block their age-based rating. You can also block out programs that have been given
an Exempt rating, and programs that are considered unrated. Go to page 68 for the US and Canada ratings
explanations.
