According to a biennial study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the number of sexual scenes on television has nearly doubled since 1998. And while the inclusion of references to “safer sex” issues – such as waiting to have sex, using protection, or possible consequences of unprotected sex – has also increased since 1998, that rate has leveled off in recent years. The study examined a representative sample of more than 1,000 hours of programming including all genres other than daily newscasts, sports events, and children’s shows. All sexual content was measured, including talk about sex and sexual behavior.

News Release – Number of Sex Scenes on TV Nearly Double Since 1998

Executive Summary

Report

The report was released on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 at a forum in Washington, D.C. that included opening remarks by Kaiser Family Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman, a keynote speech by Senator Barack Obama, and a roundtable discussion featuring Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy; Fox Television Networks President and CEO Tony Vinciquerra; Law & Order: SVU Executive Producer Neal Baer; behavioral scientist and RAND Corporation Researcher, Rebecca Collins; and National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Executive Director Sarah Brown. Kaiser Family Foundation Vice President Vicky Rideout and University of Arizona Professor Dale Kunkel presented the findings.

Agenda (.pdf)

Speaker Presentations (.pdf)

Speaker Biographies (.pdf)

Remarks of U.S. Senator Barack Obama (.pdf)

Webcast

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