Despite long-standing public support for sex education in the schools, it has been difficult to show concrete effects of sex education on sexual and contraceptive behavior.

The purpose of this study is to examine the nature and extent of messages about sex that are presented in the "Family Hour" on broadcast network television. The study employs scientific content analysis procedures to examine a thorough sample programming from the winter of 1996.

The report summarizes the data collected in three separate studies commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Children Now about sexual messages on television and the impact of those messages on children and families. Contents:-Pt. 1.