# Symbols in cable TV program descriptions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-in-cable-tv-program-descriptions/799101>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 17, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-in-cable-tv-program-descriptions/799101 "2017-10-17T02:14:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-in-cable-tv-program-descriptions/799101/1 "2017-10-17T02:14:53Z")

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Our cable service (WOW!) has the typical listing guide that you can call up on the screen. Another button opens the “Program Description”. Most of it is straight forward: the 2 main stars, a brief synopsis, date of production and running time. Then there is is a line of characters, some of which I don’t get.

It starts off with the type (drama, comedy), rating (TV-14, PG, etc), then a list of capital letters that can include: D,S,L,V. It also may include the Closed Caption symbol, a pair of headphones, a 1 to 3 star rating, and “NEW” and HD.

So what are the D,S,L,V and the headphones?

Dennis

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-in-cable-tv-program-descriptions/799101/2 "2017-10-17T02:23:11Z")

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DSLV  
Suggestive **D** ialogue  
**S** exual Situations  
**L** anguage(cussing)  
**V** iolence

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-in-cable-tv-program-descriptions/799101/3 "2017-10-17T03:08:42Z")

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Ahh, so the more letters the better!

Dennis

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**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2017, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbols-in-cable-tv-program-descriptions/799101/4 "2017-10-17T03:35:49Z")

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I believe the headphones indicate that the audio track is in some form of multichannel sound, or stereo. Stereo TV sound is pretty common now, but I remember back in the 80s when stereo TV was just getting started, TV shows that were in stereo would use the headphones as a symbol that the audio was multichannel.