Clean Up Television Campaign
The Clean Up Television Campaign (CUTV) is an American initiative that emerged from concerns raised by various religious and civil groups about the portrayal of indecent acts on television. Founded in response to programming that featured themes like adultery and sexual perversion, the CUTV aims to address what its supporters view as negative influences on viewers, particularly children. The campaign draws inspiration from a similar movement in the United Kingdom that started in the 1960s.
By organizing boycott campaigns targeting sponsors of shows deemed offensive, CUTV seeks to pressure networks into revising their programming content. One of its most notable successes came in the early 1980s when its efforts contributed to the cancellation of the sitcom "Soap," which was criticized for its humor around controversial topics. The movement reflects broader societal debates about media influence and moral standards, highlighting the ongoing tension between creative expression and community values. Overall, the Clean Up Television Campaign serves as a focal point for discussions on media responsibility and the impact of television on cultural norms.
Clean Up Television Campaign
Founded: 1978
Type of organization: American group dedicated to promoting decency in television programming
Significance: This group has been responsible for pressuring the sponsors of television programs they deemed objectionable
The CUTV is an American organization based on a similar British body that began in the 1960’s. It is made up of religious and civil groups that felt insulted by the indecent acts represented on daily television programs, such as scenes of adultery or sexual perversion and scenes portraying immoral acts as humorous. The CUTV has initiated boycott campaigns against product sponsors of programs thought to be offensive and negative influences on young people. The CUTV achieved some success in revising television programming in the early 1980’s. Its most notable achievement was helping to hasten cancellation of the popular sitcom Soap.
![Richard Mulligan, 1991, star of the TV sitcom "Soap," which was cancelled due to the campaign by CUTV. photo by Alan Light [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons 102082115-101560.jpg](https://imageserver.ebscohost.com/img/embimages/ers/sp/embedded/102082115-101560.jpg?ephost1=dGJyMNHX8kSepq84xNvgOLCmsE2epq5Srqa4SK6WxWXS)