PRESENCE OF SEXUAL MESSAGES There are two main types of representations involving sex examined in this report: talk about sex and physical behavior. Both types of depictions have the potential to influence viewers' beliefs and attitudes regarding sexual issues. The first statistics concern the proportion of all programs that contain messages about sex. More than half (56%) of all television programs contain sexual content. Overall, 39% of all programs studied contain one or more scenes with a substantial emphasis on sex. Rather, across all 528 shows with any sexual content, there is an average of 3.2 scenes per hour involving sex. Clearly, sexual talk and behavior is a common element in television programming, and many programs that include sexual messages devote considerable attention to the topic. Most of the scenes involving speeches basically focused on sexual themes and topics. Of the 23% of the programs in the sample that contained sexual behaviors, approximately two-thirds of these programs (16% of the programs in total) contained only precursor behaviors, while approximately one-third (7% of the programs overall) depicted actual sexual intercourse or strongly imply that they were about to occur or had just occurred between two partners. The degree of explicitness associated with the representation of sexual behaviors was also analysed. Explicitness was measured on a four-point scale including provocative clothing, some stripping, discreet nudity, and nudity. Across all programs, including any sexual behavior, the average level of explicitness was very low. The difference in explicitness between programs with precursor behaviors only and programs with sexual intercourse is substantial, although the level of explicitness for the latter group is still relatively...... middle of paper ......t sex, three-quarters (75%) of the network's primetime comedies include such material. One of the most impressive findings for primetime is that nearly one in four drama series (23%) that includes sexual material also addresses some issues related to sexual risk. or responsibility at some point in the show. This compares with only 5% of dramas that include such topics elsewhere on television. Similarly, prime time programs classified as “reality” included themes regarding sexual risk and responsibility in 22% of all shows with any sexual content. This compares favorably to the 16% level found in the same type of programs in the overall composite sample. Although prime time offers slightly more coverage of issues of sexual risk and responsibility than television programming in general, the margin of difference is very small..