This feature allows you to program the guide to prevent children from seeing certain channels and programming. Depending on your satellite receiver model, you can set locks by channel, by content or by audience rating. We suggest you use a combination of each lock to best protect your children from viewing adult programming.

Channel locks are great for channels that you don't want children to watch such as Playboy TV or Pay Per View adult movies. On legacy receivers, you can use content locks will lock out programs that have been rated for violence, adult language or nudity. General or rating locks will block shows that have been rated for a specific audience: X, R or PG-13.

To watch programs that are locked, you need to enter a password. Once you enter a password, that show will be unlocked until you re-set the lock or until the receiver is turned off.

Learn how to set a password
Learn how to set channel locks
Learn how to set audience locks
Learn how to set content locks

Ratings come from broadcasters

We rely on broadcasters to provide rating information. It is entered into the guide by our listing service.

You'll generally find the content and audience ratings reliable for movies or network shows. However, some science shows, documentaries or older movies and re-runs may not be rated, even though they deal with adult subjects.

How can you tell what ratings a show has? Click the 'INFO' button. You'll see the ratings listed on the bottom right corner of the info page. If there are no ratings, the show will not be locked. The only way to lock it out is with a channel lock, which will lock out the entire channel.

How to set channel locks

Using a DSR 209, DSR 319, HDDSR 505 or HDPVR 530 receiver

1. Press the 'OPTIONS' button.
2. Press Parental Controls (4).
3. Press Enable Locks (2).
4. Enter a four digit password of your choice when prompted. Be sure to make careful note of this password, you will need it to access locked content later.
5. Select Channel Locks (3).

This will bring up the entire list of channels, starting at 200. Use the arrow keys to scroll over and down the channel list. When a channel is highlighted in yellow, press the 'ENTER' button. The box will become checked, indicating that the channel is now locked out. You can use the page down button to move more quickly through the channel listing. Once you have finished making your selections, highlight SAVE on the left and press 'ENTER'.

Using a legacy receiver

1. Press the 'OPTIONS' button.
2. Press Set Parental Controls (3).
3. Press Set Channel Locks (2).

This will bring up the entire list of channels, starting at 200/2. Use the arrow keys to scroll down the channel list. When a channel is highlighted in yellow, press the 'ENTER' button. The box will become checked, indicating that the channel is now locked out.

Locked channels will not appear in your onscreen guide. When you surf through channels, the receiver will skip locked channels. The only way to view a locked channel is to enter the channel number directly. If you set a password, you'll have to enter it to view the channel.

How to set General or Audience Locks

Using a DSR 209, DSR 319, HDDSR 505 or HDPVR 530 receiver

1. Press the 'OPTIONS' button.
2. Press Parental Controls (4).
3. Press I Rating Locks (2).

You will have the choice of setting the locks for both TV and Movie Ratings.

TV Ratings

18+

This programming is recommended for adult audiences only and may contain extreme violence, sexual content and adult language or situations.

14+

Parental guidance is suggested for children under the age of 14. The television program may contain scary scenes, violence, adult situations or mild nudity.

PG

Parental Guidance is suggested because of violent or scary scenes and adult situations or language.

C8+

Parental Guidance suggested for small children. May contain situations or language not appropriate for younger audiences.

Movie Ratings

Adult

This is adult programming that may contain extreme violence, graphic sexual content and adult language and situations.

R

Restricted. This programming may contain violence, sexual content and adult language or situations.

18A

No children under 17. Again, this content may contain extreme violence, graphic sexual content and adult language and situations.

14A

Parental Guidance suggested for children under age 13 because of violence, adult language or situations or scary scenes.

PG

Parental Guidance is suggested because of violent or scary scenes and adult situations or language.

When you choose a rating, highlight it and press 'ENTER'. All ratings above that on the list will automatically be highlighted. You'll be prompted for a password every time a new show starts or when you switch to a channel that is rated at the level you specified or greater.

Using a legacy receiver

1. Press the 'OPTIONS' button.
2. Press Set Parental Controls (3).
3. Press Set General Rating Locks (3).

You will have the choice of setting the locks for up to six different audience ratings.

X:

This is adult programming that may contain extreme violence, graphic sexual content and adult language and situations.

R:

Restricted. This programming may contain violence, sexual content and adult language or situations.

NC-17:

No children under 17. Again, this content may contain extreme violence, graphic sexual content and adult language and situations.

PG-13:

Parental Guidance suggested for children under age 13 because of violence, adult language or situations or scary scenes.

PG:

Parental Guidance is suggested because of violent or scary scenes and adult situations or language.

NR:

No rating. This means that the show has not been rated.

When you choose a rating, highlight it and press 'ENTER'. All ratings above that on the list will automatically be highlighted. You'll be prompted for a password every time a new show starts or when you switch to a channel that is rated at the level you specified or greater.

Remember, there are shows that are for adult audiences that have not been rated by the broadcaster. For example, many older movies, released before there were ratings, will appear as not rated. They won't be blocked by General Locks.

How to set Content Locks (Legacy receivers only)

1. Press the 'OPTIONS' button.
2. Press Set Parental Controls (3).
3. Press Set Content Rating Locks (4).

Content locks block programming that is rated for specific content: violence, language and nudity. Here are what the rating acronyms mean:

GV: Graphic violence
V: Violence
MV: Mild violence

GL: Graphic language
AC: Adult content
AL: Adult language

SC: Sexual content
N: Nudity
BN: Brief nudity

Remember, there are shows that are for adult audiences that have not been rated by the broadcaster. For example, many older movies, documentaries or news programs, will appear as not rated. They won't be blocked by Content Locks.

Set locks for programming with "No Info"

On the Set Parental Controls menu, option 6 lets you lock channels that have "No Info". Keep in mind that this feature will also lock out all channels when the onscreen guide is refreshing or showing "No Info".

Using the DSR 209, DSR 319, HDDSR 505 or HDPVR 530 this feature is turned on by default whenever you have locks enabled on your Shaw Direct system.

This is an added safety feature. Using this feature prevents viewers from getting around the locks if they unplug the receiver. If you are concerned about your children watching adult content, we suggest you set it to yes.