TiVo and KidZone - Protect Kids from Adult TV Content

TiVo launched KidZone in June, 2006. KidZone allows parents to lock out their kids' access to programming that is not appropriate for their children. In addition, KidZone provides recommendations to parents from various experts so that parents can find appropriate and ideal television programming for their children. Much like the software program "NetNanny" and other software designed to keep the Internet safe for children, KidZone isolates inappropriate TV programming and gives parents the comfort of knowing that when the kids turn on the TV, they will be protected from adult fare.

According to TiVo, KidZone allows subscribers to:

1. Choose from entire menus of shows recommended by a variety of leading non-profit organizations focused on children and media including Common Sense Media, Parents' Choice Foundation and the Parents Television Council and set automatic recordings based on those recommended menus-- from their homes or using the Internet.
2. Easily add or subtract specific programs or channels to further customize what is available for children.
3. Lock out all other live or recorded programming or channels that are not specified for TiVo KidZone from access by children, while making all channels and recordings available when a parent wants to watch television (after entering a four digit code, as with an ATM).

Pre-Approved TV

When you enable KidZone on a standalone Series2 or Series3 TiVo DVR, you can select the programs and channels that your children can watch. You can also block specific shows on channels that you have approved, to keep your kids from watching those shows you just can’t stand. When you let your children watch TV you’ll be comfortable knowing they can only get to shows you’ve approved.

KidZone Guides

In addition to locking out specific types of programming. KidZone can recommend shows that are age- and kid- appropriate. Various sources publish lists of recommended shows:

* Common Sense Media
* Discovery Kids
* KIDS FIRST!
* Parents' Choice Foundation
* Parent’s Television Council
* TiVo Presents E/I Programming

You can choose to automatically record all of the shows they recommend, or select only those that interest you.

Of course you don’t need to follow KidZone Guide recommendations, you can also specify exactly the shows you want kids to be able to see.

Lock your Kids out of Your Now Playing List!

With TiVo KidZone, your kids can only see their own shows. They only have access to the KidZone Now Playing List, where the shows you have pre-approved appear. They can’t get to any of your programs, or any of the DVR settings.

When you want to watch TV, just enter the four-digit password and the DVR will stay unlocked until you enter KidZone again. Or, let the DVR automatically re-lock itself when you leave it unused for four hours – so when the kids wake up the next morning you know the TV is safe.

Setting up KidZone

1. Go to the TiVo Central screen, select 'Messages & Settings' > 'Get TiVo KidZone.'
2. Select "Yes, Turn On TiVo KidZone."
3. Choose the appropriate age range and create a password.
4. Adjust KidZone settings to fine-tune the content you want your children to watch. From TiVo Central, select 'Messages & Settings' > 'KidZone Settings.' From here, you can control:

   * the channels that are available to your children
   * the age range of the shows your children watch
   * the password you use to exit KidZone
   * the content ratings of the shows your children watch

Note: KidZone and Parental Controls cannot be used together. Setting up KidZone clears all Parental Controls settings and turns off Parental Controls.