Prepare Content

Ratings and advisories requirements

Ratings

Ratings are required for all Apple TV Channels partners and partners participating in the Apple Video Partner Program. Supported ratings can be found in the following addendums. Additional catalog requirements are listed in UMC Catalog Data Requirements. 

Advisories

Advisories are optional with the exception of the regions listed below for both film and TV.

Supply the consumer advisory code and rating reason via the catalog feed. The consumer advice labels are issued in the form of initials, not the full advice. Refer to the Content Advisories and Ratings Addendums for a full list of ratings and advisories. Optionally, you can use the content advisory descriptors in the addendum as the rating reason value.

Brazil

TV and films delivered for distribution in Brazil need a local rating. To obtain a rating, do one of the following: 

  • Submit the film to the National Secretariat of Justice of the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (“NSJ”) for an official review and rating classification.
  • If the film has never received an official rating for distribution in Brazil, designate the appropriate rating using the guidance issued by the NSJ:
  • The NSJ also issues content descriptors that act as consumer advice and are specific to each film. If you choose to designate the rating classification for the film independently using the NSJ guidance, you must also select appropriate content descriptors in line with the same guidance. 

India

India has consumer advice labels that are specific to film and TV. 

  • Where consumer advice has been issued, it must be displayed on the Apple TV app.
  • Delivering an advisory is not required for films with a U rating; Apple will always display the advisory “Content Suitable for All Ages” for U-rated films.
  • The remaining ratings (U/A 7+, U/A 13+, U/A 16+, and A) require at least one advisory. 

New Zealand

TV and films delivered for distribution in New Zealand need an official label containing an age rating classification from the Film and Video Labelling Body (FVLB). 

  • The label must specifically cover online distribution, and a label that has been issued for DVD distribution only will not be sufficient. In order for the FVLB to issue a label for a film, the film will have to be reviewed and classified by the New Zealand Office of Film and Literature Classification, or have been given an unrestricted classification in Australia or the UK. For more information on the classification and labeling process contact enquiries@fvlb.org.nz.
  • In addition to the age rating, the FVLB issues consumer advice which is specific to each film, and it is a legal requirement that the consumer advice is displayed on the Apple TV app.

South Africa

TV and films delivered for distribution in South Africa that have been rated by the Film and Publication Board (FPB) should be delivered with both the rating and the corresponding consumer advice labels. Consumer advice labels must also be displayed on the Apple TV app. For more information, contact clientsupport@fpb.org.za.