To be sure, educational programming likely benefits some of the children who seek it out, particularly those whose families can't afford the myriad options available today on cable or Netflix.

Federal law, implemented by the Federal Communications Commission, helped kill network broadcasts of Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny and their modern equivalents, while effectively issuing do-not-resuscitate orders for classics like 'In the News.'

The overall effect of the Kid Vid rules has been to force networks to prioritize less popular content. Some of this programming attracts reliable viewership among older children, but younger children largely aren't watching.

Michael O'Rielly Quotes