ANA - Family Friendly Programming Forum FAQs

The Family Friendly Programming Forum (FFPF) is a group of major national advertisers, all members of the Association of National Advertisers, whose collective advertising represents approximately 30 percent of all advertising spend in the United States. The FFPF is taking positive steps to increase family friendly programming choices on television.

The goal of the Family Friendly Programming Forum is to support and promote content alternatives that adults and children can enjoy together.
Our mission is to be a formidable influence supporting and promoting the development of family friendly content across multiple distribution platforms.

The definition of family friendly programming is purposefully broad. Relevant to today's diverse and complex consumer, it has multi-generational appeal, depicts real life and is appropriate in theme, content and language. Family friendly content also embodies a responsible resolution of issues.

For the past eight years FFPF members have seen more and more people, companies and networks join in its mission to support and promote the development and scheduling of "family friendly" movies, dramas, situation comedies and informational programs that are aired during the hours of 8 to 10 p.m., when adults and children in a household are most likely to watch television together. As of 2004, the FFPF accomplished one of its key objectives - to secure one family friendly alternative each hour between 8 and 10 p.m.
In addition, last year, for the first time every network participated in the FFPF's Script Development Fund (see below) initiative.

The Script Development Fund provides seed money that helps develop promising new scripts that could evolve into shows that will appeal across generations. The fund demonstrates that FFPF members are not just pushing for more family friendly television shows but that they are willing to make a financial investment that will encourage their production.
This initiative is funded by 17 of the member companies and has generated several highly successful shows, including Gilmore Girls, (formerly The WB), 8 Simple Rules (ABC) and American Dreams (NBC).
In the fall 2007, three new family-friendly programs debuted: Bionic Woman, Chuck (NBC) and Life is Wild (CW).
Five renewed series were picked up for the 2007/2008 broadcast season: Ugly Betty, Notes from the Underbelly and Brothers & Sisters (ABC), Friday Night Lights (NBC) and Everybody Hates Chris (CW).
The Forum members have no involvement in the content of these scripts, but provide direction and inspiration to the writers that the networks select.

The Scholarship Program has funded 49 scholarships in the television studies departments at several partner universities. These scholarships are designed to encourage students and future script writers to explore family friendly programming and to develop scripts with family friendly themes.
Carnegie Mellon, Loyola Marymount, Ohio and University of Southern California participate in the scholarship fund.

The annual Symposium is designed to engage all facets of the entertainment community, from the television networks and advertisers to the writers and producers, in a dialogue about the business efficacy and social responsibility inherent in the goals of the FFPF.
The Symposium is also supported by the members of the National Council for Families & Television.

The Annual Family Television Awards honor actors, actresses, producers and programs that further the FFPF's goals to recognize outstanding programming for family viewing.
The Family Television Awards are held in Beverly Hills each year and produced by dick clark productions. The Awards show airs on The CW network a week later.

2007 Family Television Award honorees included:

Drama: Heroes (NBC)
Comedy: Ugly Betty (ABC)
Newcomer: Zac Levi, CHUCK (NBC)
Reality: Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader? (FOX)
Original Cable Series: Kyle XY (ABC Family)
New Series: Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Actor: Zac Efron (High School Musical 2, Disney Channel) & Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights, NBC)
Actress: America Ferrera, Ugly Betty (ABC)
TV Movie: High School Musical 2 (Disney Channel)
Specials/Mini-Series: Planet Earth (Discovery Channel)

The FFPF has generated several highly successful shows, including Gilmore Girls and Everybody Hates Chris both airing on The CW. In addition, in the fall 2006, five new family friednly programs debuted: Betty the Ugly, Notes from the Underbelly and Brothers & Sisters, all airing on ABC and Friday Night Lights airing on NBC.
Additional shows funded by the FFPF include: 8 Simple Rules (ABC) American Dreams (NBC), Commander in Chief (ABC) and Related (The WB), just to name a few.
All five networks participate in the fund.

The Forum has had a hand in several hit shows. The best example is "Gilmore Girls" on The CW, which was the first program that the Family Friendly Programming Forum helped to develop.

TELEVISION NETWORKS: The Script Development Fund partners are ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and The CW.
Hallmark Channel supports the Family Television Awards through partial sponsorship.
COLLEGES: Carnegie Mellon, Loyola Marymount, Ohio and the University of Southern California participate in the Scholarship Program.
ADVOCACY GROUPS: The National Council for Families in Television supports the annual Symposium and helps the Forum research the influence that television has on parenting.

Any company that is a member of the ANA and who supports the FFPF mission to promote the development and scheduling of "family friendly" programming can become a member.