Children’s Television Act of 1990 United States [1990] Also known as: CTA Written by Linda S. Watts Contributor to SAGE Publications's The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society (2020) whose work appears in Britannica as part of a joint publishing agreement with SAGE. Linda S. Watts Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated May 11, 2026 •History The Children’s Television Act of 1990 (CTA) was intended to promote broadcast television programming in the public interest and increase young viewers’ access to educational and informational content on television. U.S. President George H.W. Bush allowed the act to become a law without his signature in October 1990, saying he supported its goals but had objections on free speech grounds. Although Americans had voiced concerns about the programs children were watching on television since at...

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