Final answer:
In the late 1960s and 70s, mass advertising to children greatly increased, leading to shows that blended content with marketing. The 1980s saw cartoons become direct advertisements for toys. The FCC enforced decency standards, with notable incidents raising questions about content regulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the late 1960s and 70s, a significant shift occurred in the landscape of children's television programming and advertising. The expansion of mass advertising targeted at young audiences resulted in children's programs such as The Mickey Mouse Club and The Howdy Doody Show gaining popularity. These advances, from a mere $170 million in 1950 to nearly $2 billion by the next decade, fostered an environment where advertising towards children became considerably more prevalent, sometimes even blurring the lines between content and commerce as seen in TV Guide.
As this trend evolved, the 1980s brought a new layer to children's programming wherein popular cartoons like My Little Pony and G.I. Joe doubled as advertisements for their corresponding toy lines. This phenomenon was emblematic of the broader shift in television where programs weren't just sponsored by products, but essentially were the products themselves. Concerns about indecent content on television also prompted regulatory actions. For instance, the inception of the television ratings system, influenced by the V-Chip technology, helped parents control the content their children were exposed to.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) played a pivotal role through the enforcement of decency standards. Notable instances, like the wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, illuminated the controversies and challenges of regulating broadcast content.