NEW YORK, June 4 (UPI) -- The Family Friendly Programming Forum, a coalition of 40-plus U.S. advertisers, will mark two milestones when this fall's television season begins.
The 2007-08 season marks the first time the group, which helps finance development of family oriented programming for broadcast networks, has secured at least one such option in prime time every night except Sunday, Hollywood Reporter reported Monday.
The season also will feature the most shows funded through the group's Script Development Fund since its inception in 1998. The eight series include five returning shows -- ABC's "Ugly Betty," "Brothers & Sisters" and "Notes From the Underbelly," NBC's "Friday Night Lights" and CW's "Everybody Hates Chris." The three new shows are NBC dramas "Chuck" and "The Bionic Woman," and the CW drama "Life is Wild."
"One of the key elements we tried as an organization was to provide optional programming to families every day of the week," said Pat Gentile, national TV programming manager at Procter & Gamble Co., an FFPF member.
The organization defines family friendly programming as shows appropriate in theme, content and language for adults and children. They also should have cross-generational appeal, depict real life and resolve issues responsibly.
