

Even now, Netflix’s on-screen content ratings are much more subtle, and smaller, than the bugs seen on linear TV.Īmong the streaming services, Hulu (owned by traditional media outlets including Disney, 21st Century Fox, and NBC Universal) features content ratings on screen much as broadcast and cable networks do - with large type, in a white or black box, on the upper-left screen. Although Netflix rated its programs, it didn’t stamp those ratings on the screen viewers had to dig around if they wanted content information. This should quiet critics who believed Netflix had an unfair advantage by not adhering to the same voluntary ratings system as broadcast and cable outlets. When we called Netflix for comment, reps referred us to the blog post. We are also continuing to explore ways to make this information more descriptive and easier for our members to understand with just a quick glance. While these maturity ratings are available in other parts of the experience, we want to ensure members are fully aware of the maturity level as they begin watching. In addition, we will also begin displaying more prominently the maturity level rating for a series or film once a member hits play on a title. Per a blog post written by Mike Hastings, director of enhanced content at Netflix, this is a new initiative meant to improve “some long-standing Netflix features that provide members with the information and tools they need to make wise decisions about what’s right for themselves and for their families”: There, you’ll find a pop-up graphic denoting the show or film’s content rating, bringing the streaming service into line with what broadcast television and cable networks have done for two decades.

There’s been a recent addition to the Netflix - but viewers may have noticed only if they happened to pay attention to the top left corner of the screen.
