Parent Television Council, Who Criticized WWE In 2000s, Files For Bankruptcy

The Parent Television Council, who took aim at WWE back in the early ’00s, has filed for bankruptcy. Deadline reports that the conservative watchdog group, which grew to prominence in the fighting against what it perceived as immoral conduct on TV, filed for chapter seven bankruptcy on October 3rd in Delaware Bankruptcy Court.

The report notes that a total of 26 creditors were sent notices of the bankruptcy filing on Thursday per court documents. The court has set a meeting for the creditors on November 5th. The group listed $91,873.93 in assets and $284,823.58 in dept on the filing.

Founded in 1995 as an offshoot of L. Brent Bozell III’s Media Research Council, the group went on the attack against what it called the rise of “sex, violence, and profanity on television,” framing it as a crusade for the sake of “protecting children.” Among the targets was WWE, who were boycotted in 2001. WWE famously parodied the group with the RIght To Censor and filed a lawsuit against the company for libel. The PTC eventually settled for $3.5 million. Bozell issued a public apology as part of the settlement.

The group continued to rise, finding its height with actions against CBS over the famed 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show featuring Janet Jackson in which a part of Jackson’s breast was exposed. It continued to target media that it thought was was inappropriate including the likes of Teen Titans, South Park, Two and a Half Men, CSI, Will & Grace and That ’70s Show.

However, while the group has remained active and sent out a press release as recently as last month, it went into decline in the late 2000s.