How To Block Content & Channels On Smart TVs (Solved)

Many parents choose to block channels or programs with mature ratings on their smart TVs to protect their children from adult content.

Whether intentionally or by accident, children can access all kinds of content, so it pays to play it safe.

Broadcasters put content notices and ratings on programs, but some parents prefer to have extra security. Luckily, smart TV manufacturers give you the option to block content based on ratings and channels.

Here’s How to Block Content on a Smart TV:

If you don’t want certain content or channels to be viewable on your smart TV, you need to disable these through Parental Controls. Parental Controls have settings that allow you to control what channels can be watched and what TV and movie ratings can be viewed on your smart TV.

Table of Contents
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Here’s How to Block Content on a Smart TV:
What is the Difference between Blocking Content and Channels?
How to Block Content and Channels on Samsung Smart TVs
How to Block Content and Channels on LG Smart TVs
How to Block Content and Channels on VIZIO Smart TVs
How to Block Content and Channels on Sony Smart TVs
Can You Block Specific Content on Smart TVs?
Do All Programs Have Ratings?
Can You Block Content from the USB of Your Smart TV?
Can You update the Program Ratings of Your Smart TV?
How to Set up Parental Control on Smart TVs

What is the Difference between Blocking Content and Channels?

Blocking content means restricting access to movies or TV programs on your smart TV based on a particular age rating. Channel blocking restricts access to a particular channel.

So if you set your smart TV to block content that is rated R, you will only get broadcasts that are below the R rating.

On some smart TVs, content ratings are based on the age you choose. This means that you will only be able to view programs that are appropriate for that set age and below.

For example, if you set your smart TV to an age rating of 7, only programs meant for kids that age or younger would be shown.

Meanwhile, channel blocking restricts access to a particular channel and its programs, regardless of rating.

On some smart TVs, you can also delete a channel from the roster. Should you decide to do so, you can only restore deleted channels by doing a factory reset.

Think twice before pursuing any long-term removal of channels.

How to Block Content and Channels on Samsung Smart TVs

One easy way is to block specific apps on your Smart TV. If you own a Samsung smart TV, you can set a rating lock, or you can block certain channels.

To lock a rating, follow these steps:

Go to Settings and select Broadcasting
Select Program Rating Lock Settings
Input your PIN (The default PIN code is 0000)
Turn on Program Rating Lock and choose between TV Rating or Movie Rating
Look for the content rating you wish to block and enter your PIN code to block the selected content rating

Anyone attempting to watch programs that are locked will need to input the PIN code.

To lock specific channels, follow these steps:

Go to Settings and select Broadcasting
Select Channel Lock
Look for the Edit Channel option, and select the channels you want to restrict
Press the green “B” button on the remote control
You will then input your PIN code to block the selected channels

The process might vary depending on the model of your Samsung TV.

If the processes above do not work, try following these steps:

Go to Menu and look for the Live TV options
Open the Channel List and go to All Channels
Select Edit, and then click Lock

How to Block Content and Channels on LG Smart TVs

You can set a TV-rating lock or a channel lock on LG smart TVs.

To lock content by rating, follow these steps:

Press the Settings button
Click Safety on the left side menu
Select “On”
Enter your PIN code (The default PIN code is 0000)
Select TV Program Lock (Movie Lock is also found here)
Choose the ratings you wish to restrict

Channels can be locked on LG smart TVs by following these steps:

Press the Settings button
Click Safety on the left side menu
Select “On”
Enter your PIN code (The default PIN code is 0000)
Select Channel Locks
Set the source
Select the channels you wish to lock

A channel is considered locked when a padlock symbol is present beside it. You must have the PIN code to watch these channels.

When you lock a channel on an LG smart TV and do not have the PIN code, you will be able to select the channel, but the screen will be blank and without any sound.

Note that these features can only be accessed with your remote control.

How to Block Content and Channels on VIZIO Smart TVs

The Parental Controls in the Settings menu of the Vizio holds all the controls for ratings and channel blocking. To limit program ratings, follow these steps:

Press the remote’s Menu button
Navigate to Parental and click OK
Enter your passcode (The default PIN code is 0000)
Click on the content type you wish to restrict
Highlight the ratings you wish to block and click OK

To block channels on VIZIO smart TVs, follow these steps:

Press the remote’s Menu button
Navigate to Parental and click OK
Enter your passcode (The default PIN code is 0000)
Navigate to Channels Lock and press OK
Highlight the channels you wish to lock and press OK

A channel is considered locked when a padlock symbol is present beside it.

How to Block Content and Channels on Sony Smart TVs

You can block content by ratings or by channel on Sony smart TVs.

To block content by rating on a Sony smart TV, follow these steps:

Press the Home button and click Settings
Under the Settings options, go to System Settings
Select Personal
Select Parental Lock (If you have not set your PIN code, do so at this point. The PIN code is needed to continue setting up restriction access to your smart TV.)
Input your PIN code, then proceed to Parental Rating options
Input the age that will be used as a basis for the restriction.

All content rated above the age set will be blocked unless the PIN code is entered. Sony smart TVs also have an added layer of protection that restricts adult content from the HDMI input. You can adjust this using the Parental Lock options outlined above.

The channel blocking option can also be found under Parental Lock using these steps:

Press the Home button and click Settings
Under the Settings options, go to System Settings
Select Personal
Select Parental Lock (If you have not set your PIN code, do so at this point. The PIN code is needed to continue setting up restriction access to your smart TV.)
Input your PIN code, then select Channel Block
Select Analog Channel Block
Look for the channel you want to block then select Blocked
You may be asked to input the PIN code to confirm

Can You Block Specific Content on Smart TVs?

You can block content based on its rating or the channel it is on. That covers both television and movies.

However, you cannot block content based on a particular title of a program or film.

Do All Programs Have Ratings?

All programs and movies have ratings based on their content.

But not all content has the embedded rating code that the TV looks for to enforce restrictions.

You can only block content that has the rating code embedded.

Can You Block Content from the USB of Your Smart TV?

You may not be able to block content from the USB drive unless it has the embedded rating code.

Can You update the Program Ratings of Your Smart TV?

You can update the program ratings on your smart TV by following the guidelines outlined above and re-setting your program rating stipulations.

How to Set up Parental Control on Smart TVs

The Parental Control option for smart TVs is found in the Settings menu. Note that these may vary with different TVs, even from the same manufacturer.

Samsung
To access Parental Control on Samsung smart TVs: