Time Warner Cable and Common Sense Media recently announced a new partnership to provide Time Warner Cable customers with access to point of decision reviews, ratings and program information designed to help parents make informed viewing choices about TV, movies, music, books, websites and video games. Time Warner Cable will integrate Common Sense Media's extensive reviews, recommendations and media parent tips into its cable television and high-speed data services.
Time Warner Cable will launch a co-branded section on the Company's website and on Road Runner, its high-speed online service, that will present Common Sense Media's independent ratings information for television shows, movies, books, music and video games. Common Sense Media is also producing televised reviews and media information spots for Time Warner Cable's free video on demand service. Additionally, the companies plan to explore the integration of Common Sense Media reviews, recommendations and ratings into the Time Warner Cable interactive program guide and TV listings search functionality.
"We are pleased to partner with Common Sense Media in giving parents additional tools and information to help them make informed decisions for their families," said Time Warner Cable President and CEO Glenn Britt. "Our goal is to incorporate Common Sense Media assets and expertise across a wide variety of Time Warner Cable platforms making this information easy to access for interested customers. We believe Common Sense Media's extensive reviews will add another level of resources to the cable ratings system that has been operating since the mid 1990's."
Time Warner Cable says it is dedicated to providing customers with more control over their cable services. The new partnership should complement the company's Parental Controls which allow users to block specific channels and in many cases specific programs; as well as the Family Choice tier launched in December 2005 that provides customers with a package of programming they could reasonably assume would not contain any content that might be objectionable for younger viewers in the household.
"Time Warner Cable has taken a big step forward in empowering millions of parents by providing them with point of decision media and entertainment reviews and ratings that allow families to experience the best possible media viewing environment," said James P. Steyer, CEO and Founder of Common Sense Media. "Increasingly, parents need trustworthy information to help them navigate through a rapidly changing media world and make positive choices. We're pleased that Glenn Britt and Time Warner Cable are demonstrating such a strong commitment to kids and families by leading the industry in this way."
Read more about this new partnership in the press release Time Warner Cable and Common Sense Media Partner to Help Parents Make Informed Media Viewing Choices.
