Dirección General de Radio, Televisión y Cinematografía


The Dirección General de Radio, Televisión y Cinematografía, known by its acronym RTC, is an agency of the Mexican Secretariat of the Interior. It rates films and television programs broadcast in the country, and it also manages the time allotted to the government on broadcast television and radio stations, including the production and distribution of La Hora Nacional, a weekly program heard on all radio stations in Mexico.
Its current director is Amador Díaz Moguel, who was named to the position on July 13, 2014.

History

The RTC was created on July 6, 1977, by a decree published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación. Its first director was Margarita López Portillo. When it was created, it took over various tasks, including the operations of the national radio station Radio México, rural television services and other radio and television stations owned by the federal government and the management of the :es:Cineteca Nacional|National Film Archive. It also proceeded to liquidate the nearly 40-year-old National Film Bank. In 1983, the broadcast stations under RTC's purview were transferred to new government institutes. In 1985, it received further power by issuing opinions on broadcast stations during their concession renewals, and in 1989, it took over production of La Hora Nacional, government commercials, and mandatory cadenas nacionales. At this time, it also began rating movies and television programs.
In 2006, the RTC closed its nine regional offices which had monitored broadcast stations throughout the country, in favor of monitoring stations from Mexico City only.

Functions

The RTC has several functions in the three media covered in its remit:

Government broadcasts and advertising

In radio, the RTC coordinates the broadcasting of government public service announcements and cadenas nacionales across the country's radio stations and makes new PSAs and content available over the internet. In most years, except during election campaigns when electoral authorities and parties take it over, the RTC controls 88 percent of the time allotted to the government, with the remaining 12 percent managed by the National Electoral Institute. Likewise, the RTC also distributes PSAs for air on television stations, as well as longer-form programs that must be at least five minutes in length.

Rating, standards and censorship

The RTC also has the power to regulate content and programming in broadcasting and film, as the manager of the country's film and television rating systems. It issues the required permits to broadcast religious programming and sanctions violators of its policies on language, standards of conduct and station contests. From 2013 to 2015, however, it rarely used this power, only issuing two fines, one to a Monterrey radio station for "corrupt language" and another to a Mérida broadcaster for improperly held contests.
The RTC's ratings scale includes AA, A, B, B-15, C, and D classifications. On television, the rating of a program determines the time period when it may be broadcast: for instance, programs rated B-15 can only be aired after 9pm, those rated C can only be aired after 10pm, and D-rated programming can only be screened after midnight, notably including telenovelas that deal with drug trafficking or cartels. Other media may be rated by other entities. The RTC rating system is one of various motion picture rating systems that are used to help parents decide what films and TV are appropriate for their children.
The RTC has also been far more lax than it once was in issuing permits for religious programming; while it issued 7,536 such authorizations between 2000 and 2001, it issued 380,263 of them in 2013 and 2014, a more than 50-fold increase.

RTC film and television ratings

LevelPreferential audiencePreferred timetableTreated topicDescriptive-
AA All audiences; Understandable for children under 7 yearsAny timeGeneral
  • Informative programs.
  • Assigned to productions easy to understand.
  • Plots and themes of particular interest for children under 7 years old are chosen.
  • Does not affect the integral development of a child under 7 years.
  • Previous TV message; audible or visible: « suitable for children»
  • Most Common Uses: Educational cartoons or soft productions.
-
AA All audiences; Understandable for children under 7 yearsAny timeViolence
  • May be minimal, as long as it is not encouraged.
  • It should not be shocking or traumatic.
    		• -
    AA All audiences; Understandable for children under 7 yearsAny timeSex
  • The naked human body is not shown.
  • Kisses, hugs or pats are presented in loving, family or friendly tone.
    		• -
    AA All audiences; Understandable for children under 7 yearsAny timeLanguage
  • Forbidden for this category.
    		• -
    AA All audiences; Understandable for children under 7 yearsAny timeDrugs
  • Forbidden for this category.
    		• -
    A All agesAny TimeGeneral
  • Informative programs.
  • May have complex themes depending on the profile of the story.
  • Some programs require parental supervision.
  • Must be easy to distinguish the exaggeration from the reality.
  • Previous TV message; audible or visible, or both ones: « suitable for all ages».
  • Most Common Uses: Documentary, musical, infantile, family films and those where there are deaths without psychologically shocking violence are used in this category.
    		• -
    A All agesAny TimeViolence
  • Minimal aggression is allowed on the characters, as long as it is not promoted.
  • It should not be displayed as the only method for solving problems between individuals.
    		• -
    A All agesAny TimeSex
  • Nudes can be presented as long as they are brief, not frequent or detailed.
  • Sexual or erotic scenes are not permitted, unless they are used for scientific, educational or documentary purposes.
    		• -
    A All agesAny TimeLanguage
  • May contain some bold expressions, as long as their use is justified.
  • Only those that are culturally non-offensive are allowed.
    		• -
    A All agesAny TimeDrugs
  • Caricatures and children's series: There should be no scenes of drug use or mention of them.
  • Series: Tobacco and alcohol consumption are occasional and justified by the plot of history. It is obligatory to show their negative consequences.
    		• -
    B Teens 12 years old and olderFrom 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.General
  • Informative programs.
  • In some plots, on the subject, there may have some degree of complexity and require the use of viewers' judgment.
  • Previous TV message; audible or visible: «This program may contain scenes of violence, addictions, sexuality or language not suitable for audiences under 12 years old.»
  • Most Common Uses: This category includes films with horror, suspense and fear of minimal impact; As well as non-extreme violence. It includes infidelities, death threats, explosions, racism, deaths from natural disaster, domestic violence and elder abuse; war or violent scenes, including mutilations without blood in contexts whether historical, fantasy, epic or comic; and varied action scenes. Films that are not attractive to children under 12 can be classified. Depending on the plot, decapitated corpses or heads may be shown.
    		• -
    B Teens 12 years old and olderFrom 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.Violence
  • It should not be the main plot.
  • There may be implied scenes of violence.
  • Some violent scenes can be shown, as long as the causes are justified and should not be executed for sexual reasons.
  • It is mandatory to show the consequences.
    		• -
    B Teens 12 years old and olderFrom 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.Sex
  • There may be nudity, but not frequent.
  • Sexual scenes can be suggested but not shown.
  • Sexual behavior is not part of the plot or the main plot.
    		• -
    B Teens 12 years old and olderFrom 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.Language
  • Double entendre is permissible, but these should not be continuous or offensive and should not be part of the personality of the character.
  • There can be no scenes of extreme verbal violence.
  • Can not be used for discriminatory and/or degrading purposes.
  • In Mexican or foreign films, curses common to Mexican Spanish may be used.
    		• -
    B Teens 12 years old and olderFrom 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.Drugs
  • Topics such as addiction and drugs may be mentioned, but not their consumption.
  • Occasional consumption of tobacco and/or alcohol.
  • It is mandatory to show the consequences of abuse.
    		• -
    B-15 15 years old or olderFrom 9:00 p.m.to 5:00 a.m.General
  • Informative programs, with some complexity depending on the subject.
  • Some plots are not suitable for people under 15 years.
  • Due to the content, one must have judgment and common sense to differentiate fantasy from reality.
  • Previous TV message; audible or visible: «This program may contain scenes of violence, addictions, sexuality or language not suitable for audiences under 15 years old.»
  • Most Common Uses: This category covers films that deal with topics such as drug addiction, homosexuality, displayed murder, implicit suicide and paranormal horror. Films with controversial themes are rated B-15.
    		• -
    B-15 15 years old or olderFrom 9:00 p.m.to 5:00 a.m.Violence
  • There may be scenes of physical violence; While it is not the main plot and is justified by the argument.
  • Violent scenes can not be detailed.
  • Any other profile of violence, with or without details, should show the negative consequences.
    		• -
    B-15 15 years old or olderFrom 9:00 p.m.to 5:00 a.m.Sex
  • Erotic and sexual scenes can be performed, as long as they are implicit and not performed in degrading and/or humiliating contexts.
  • Occasional partial and full nudity in the background is permissible, without specifically showing genitals.
    		• -
    B-15 15 years old or olderFrom 9:00 p.m.to 5:00 a.m.Language
  • Indecent words and expressions are permitted, but they should not be part of the profile of the character nor present as a positive attribute.
  • Can not be used for discriminatory and/or degrading purposes.
    		• -
    B-15 15 years old or olderFrom 9:00 p.m.to 5:00 a.m.Drugs
  • Drug use may be explicit or constant, but this is minimal and discouraged, and its negative consequences are shown.
  • Programs cannot encourage drug consumption or show their preparation.
    		• -
    C 18 years old or olderFrom 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.General
  • A restricted rating.
  • Previous TV message; audible or visible: «This program may contain scenes of violence, addictions, sexuality or language not suitable for audiences under 18 years old.»
  • Several of the issues may be more explicit or less censored.
  • Most Common Uses: Assassinations by dismemberment or incineration; pedophilia; incest; cannibalism.
    		• -
    C 18 years old or olderFrom 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.Violence
  • All horror, even detailed, is authorized.
  • Programs can not advocate violence or crimes.
    		• -
    C 18 years old or olderFrom 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.Sex
  • There may be erotic nudity without genital presentation.
  • There may be sexual intercourse.
    		• -
    C 18 years old or olderFrom 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.Language
  • Any language can be used.
  • Can not be used for discriminatory and/or degrading purposes.
    		• -
    C 18 years old or olderFrom 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.Drugs
  • Consumption of drugs is authorized.
  • Programs cannot defend or promote their consumption or trafficking.
  • Negative consequences should be shown.
    		• -
    D Adults onlyFrom midnight to 5:00 a. m.General
  • The most restrictive rating.
  • Previous TV message; audible or visible: «This program is intended exclusively for audiences over 18 years of age; may contain scenes of extreme violence, addictions, explicit sexuality and/or violent rude language.»
    		• -
    D Adults onlyFrom midnight to 5:00 a. m.Sex
  • There may be scenes, implicit or direct, of sexual and nude relationships.
  • Sex may be erotic without being considered pornography.
    		• -
    D Adults onlyFrom midnight to 5:00 a. m.Drugs
  • Scenes of drug use are presented.
  • There may be mention of drug trafficking, narcotics and related lifestyles.
    		• -
    D Adults onlyFrom midnight to 5:00 a. m.Violence
  • Violence and profanity are fully authorized, even if they are not part of the plot.
    		• -
    D Adults onlyFrom midnight to 5:00 a. m.Language
  • Violence and profanity are fully authorized, even if they are not part of the plot.

    • Ownership and operation of broadcast stations

    In 1978, the government nationalized several radio stations that held outstanding debts, owned by Grupo Fórmula. As a result, the RTC-Radio Group was formed, with three stations: XEB, XERPM and XEMP, all in Mexico City. These stations would be transferred to the new Instituto Mexicano de la Radio in 1983.
    The rural television service, known as Televisión Cultural de México and quickly changed to Televisión Rural de México and later Televisión de la República Méxicana, also was transferred out of the RTC in 1983, to the newly formed Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión.